Manually entering data or gathering information from websites often takes up unnecessary time. Think of market research or processing invoices while you have other important tasks to attend to. Microsoft is changing this with a new feature within Copilot Studio.
Microsoft allows AI agents to independently use apps and websites.
Microsoft has introduced a new capability in Copilot Studio that allows AI agents to independently operate desktop applications and websites. With this skill, agents can click buttons, select menus, and fill out forms, even when no API is available. Microsoft describes it as follows: "If a human can use the app, then the agent can too."
Agents operate through browsers such as Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. The entire functionality runs on Microsoft's own servers. This means that companies do not need to set up additional infrastructure. The collected data remains within the Microsoft cloud and is not used to train the AI model.
Impact on businesses and organizations
The new capability can save companies a significant amount of time and costs. An AI agent can, for example, input large volumes of data from various sources into a central system. In marketing, an agent can independently gather data for market research. In finance, the manual processing of invoices can be taken over by the AI agent.
Since the agents automatically adapt to changes in websites and apps, less maintenance is required. Thanks to built-in reasoning skills, they can independently handle problems or obstacles without the need for user intervention.
Easy to use without programming knowledge
Creating an AI agent does not require programming knowledge. In Copilot Studio, you specify in plain language which task you want to be performed. You can test and adjust your instructions before activating the agent. Additionally, you can track the steps taken and choices made by the agent through a detailed overview with screenshots.
Microsoft offers this feature in an early access version. Interested parties can sign up via a special form. Those who do not yet use Copilot Studio can start a free trial with a work or school account.
Conclusion
Although the technology offers many advantages, caution is advised. AI agents can make mistakes or perform tasks incompletely. Testing in practice remains important to accurately assess reliability.