The AI revolution is accelerating, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the evolving Microsoft ecosystem. While Copilot has already made headlines by assisting users across Microsoft 365, a new class of AI technology is taking shape: AI agents. These proactive, intelligent systems are redefining how work gets done, autonomously, intuitively, and at scale.
What Are AI Agents?
In practical terms, AI agents are autonomous digital assistants that act on behalf of a user, pursuing goals and executing multi-step tasks across systems. Unlike passive AI tools that offer suggestions or complete a single step, agents are goal-driven, capable of initiating actions without needing explicit prompts for each step.
Let’s clarify the distinction:
| Microsoft Copilot | AI Agents |
| Assistive and task-based | Proactive and goal-oriented |
| Works within a document or app | Works across apps and systems |
| “Helps you do a task better” | “Does the task for you” |
Why AI Agents Matter Now
The digital workplace is becoming increasingly complex. With powerful tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and more in daily use, there’s an exciting opportunity to streamline fragmented workflows and reduce manual tasks through intelligent automation.
Microsoft is responding with an ambitious vision. As Satya Nadella recently stated, “Every process will be reinvented with AI.” This vision is being realised through recent updates like Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2, which introduces:
- • Research and Analyst Agents – reasoning agents that retrieve, analyse, and summarise information
- • The Agent Store – a marketplace for agents, similar to an app store, featuring:
- - Microsoft-built agents
- - Third-party agents from Slack, ServiceNow, Jira, and more
- - Custom agents created with Copilot Studio
How AI Agents Work in the Microsoft Stack
Microsoft AI agents draw their intelligence from multiple integrated platforms:
- • Microsoft Graph and SharePoint – providing access to organisational data and context
- • Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and Azure AI – enabling the creation and deployment of agents
- • Teams, Viva, SharePoint – embedding agents into daily workflows for seamless, intuitive interaction
These components work together to deliver agents that understand your environment, execute tasks, and adapt to evolving needs.
Common Use Cases for AI Agents
Here are some practical applications already emerging:
- • HR Agent: Answers FAQs like “How do I apply for leave?” or “What’s our parental leave policy?”
- • IT Agent: Handles password resets, software license queries, or device troubleshooting
- • Compliance Agent: Proactively reminds users to complete policy attestations and escalates overdue tasks
These agents not only free up support teams but also improve employee experience with instant, accurate responses.
Benefits Over Traditional Automation
AI agents offer capabilities far beyond simple workflows or chatbots:
- • Contextual intelligence through Microsoft Graph ensures personalised, relevant interactions
- • Proactive execution, not just reactive support
- • Conversational interfaces, interacting via chat in Teams or SharePoint, not outdated forms or email threads
AI Agent vs Copilot: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Copilot | AI Agent |
| Nature | Assistive | Autonomous |
| Initiation | User-initiated | System-initiated |
| Scope | Task-level | Goal-level, cross-system |
| Example | Drafts a leave policy email | Sends the email, updates HR records and confirms submission |
Risks and Considerations
Of course, this powerful technology comes with caveats:
- • Data privacy and compliance must be carefully managed, especially in regulated sectors
- • User training and adoption are critical to avoid confusion or misuse
- • Governance and intent clarity are essential to ensure agents act appropriately and safely
What It Means for SharePoint and Intranet Pros
For intranet and SharePoint professionals, AI agents open up a world of opportunity:
- • SharePoint becomes a critical backend - “the source of truth” that agents rely on for policy, process, and employee data
- • Information architecture, metadata, and access control now directly impact AI effectiveness
- • Embedding agents within intranet portals can streamline workflows and elevate the digital employee experience
It’s time to rethink what an intranet can do, not just inform, but act.
Getting Started: How to Begin
The good news? You don’t need a massive transformation project to get started.
- • Start small using Copilot Studio
- • Identify high-volume, repetitive tasks that drain your support teams
- • Leverage existing Microsoft 365 data, Teams conversations, SharePoint libraries, HR docs, etc.
Building one well-scoped agent is often enough to demonstrate value and inspire broader adoption.
The Future: Agents as Digital Team Members
We’re on the cusp of a fundamental shift, from apps as the primary interface, to agents.
In the near future:
- • Agents will understand organisation-wide nuance, policies, and employee needs
- • SharePoint consultants and Microsoft 365 architects will be essential in designing the infrastructure these agents depend on
- • The role of IT and digital workplace teams will evolve from builders of portals to trainers of intelligent, proactive agents
AI agents aren’t science fiction, they’re Microsoft’s strategic reality. As agents become embedded across Teams, SharePoint, and Viva, organisations have a unique opportunity to unlock new levels of productivity, user satisfaction, and innovation.
The time to explore AI agents is now.
WebVine is here to help, find out more here.