Exciting Updates from Microsoft Ignite 2024

AI At Work

The Microsoft 365 ecosystem is about to get even more powerful with the introduction of several new features and enhancements to Copilot. These updates promise to revolutionise the way businesses operate, making tasks more efficient and collaboration more seamless. Let’s dive into some of the most exciting new capabilities.

 

New Agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot

• Agents in SharePoint: Empowering employees to gain insights faster, these agents help streamline business processes by offering real-time responses based on SharePoint content.
• Employee Self-Service Agent: A new addition in Microsoft 365 Copilot Business Chat, this agent answers common workplace policy-related questions and handles HR and IT tasks efficiently.
• Facilitator Agent: Enhances collaboration in Teams by taking real-time notes and sharing summaries during chats and meetings.
• Interpreter Agent: Enables real-time interpretation in Teams meetings in up to nine languages, making global communication more inclusive.
• Project Manager Agent: Automates project management in Planner, from plan creation to task execution and progress tracking.

 

Enhancements to Copilot Studio

• Autonomous Agentic Capabilities: Build agents that can take actions without prompting, operating in the background to respond to events autonomously.
• Agent Library: Provides templates for commonly used agent scenarios, which can be customized and deployed as needed

 

Integrations with Azure AI

New integrations between Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry include custom search indices and bring-your-own-model capabilities, expanding the functionality and customisation of agents.

 

New Tools for Developers

The Microsoft 365 Agents SDK allows developers to build full-stack, multichannel agents that leverage services from Azure AI and Copilot Studio, ensuring seamless integration across various platforms.

 

Additional Copilot Features

• Image Upload: Users can upload images for analysis and Q&A, saving time and adding rich context to data.
• Voice-Enabled Agents: Embed voice experiences in apps and websites for immediate response to customer and employee needs.
• Advanced Knowledge Tuning: Continuously improve agent response rates by integrating new sources of knowledge.

 

Copilot Actions and Analytics

• Copilot Actions: Easily delegate repetitive tasks, automate processes, and gather information in specified formats.
• Copilot Analytics: Measure AI impact with a comprehensive set of tools, including a Copilot dashboard and advanced reporting capabilities.

 

Enhanced Features in Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel

• Analyse Screen-Shared Content: Copilot in Teams will now analyse content presented in meetings for valuable insights.
• Presentation Translation: Translate entire PowerPoint presentations into one of 40 languages while maintaining design integrity.
• Create Task-Tailored Spreadsheets: Copilot in Excel will help users create customised spreadsheets from scratch, tailored to specific tasks.

 

Microsoft Places

• Recommended In-Office Days: Copilot will recommend the best days to go into the office based on scheduled meetings and team attendance.
• Managed Booking: Copilot will manage room bookings for meetings, ensuring the right space is always reserved.

In conclusion, the new features and enhancements to Microsoft 365 Copilot are set to transform the way businesses operate, offering unprecedented efficiency, collaboration, and customisation. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to experience the future of work with Microsoft 365 Copilot.