Microsoft is preparing to launch autonomous artificial intelligence agents next month, marking a major step in the company's quest to integrate artificial intelligence into daily business operations, reducing its reliance on the human element.
What is the nature of the work of the new artificial intelligence employees at Microsoft
These AI-powered virtual employees are designed to handle tasks such as customer inquiries, identifying leads, and supply chain management, as the tech industry looks to prove the practical value of advances in AI.
With its new product, Copilot Studio , Microsoft will allow businesses to create their own AI agents without any programming skills. It plans to launch 10 pre-configured AI agents designed for specific jobs, such as customer service and supply chain tasks, that will have capabilities to streamline processes like scheduling meetings and managing customer inquiries.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the potential of these smart tools to boost productivity in the workplace by eliminating repetitive tasks, noting that these tools can revolutionize outsourcing by improving efficiency and reducing wasted time.
How does artificial intelligence contribute to serving the labor market
He stressed that artificial intelligence tools will allow employees to focus on more important tasks, reducing what he called “routine” at work.
Copilot Studio aims to simplify the creation of AI agents, without requiring technical knowledge from users, as these agents will be powered by AI models developed by Microsoft, in addition to technology from OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.
Microsoft's AI ambitions extend even further, with the company working on an agent capable of conducting transactions on behalf of users.
For his part, Mustafa Suleyman, head of artificial intelligence at Microsoft, revealed that although early prototypes of this transaction-capable agent faced challenges, the technology is advancing rapidly and could be available within a few months.
The effects of artificial intelligence on employment
While there are concerns about the potential impact of AI agents on employment, other arguments are that AI agents could empower employees by taking over monotonous tasks, allowing them to focus on more creative and meaningful work.
On the other hand, industry experts believe that AI agents can provide a return on the large investments that technology companies have made in AI.
Andrew Rogowski, director of the Institute for Human-Centered AI at the University of Surrey, noted that while it remains uncertain how much revenue AI agents will generate, they could highlight the practical benefits of AI and help justify the billions of dollars poured into AI research and development.