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Microsoft Copilot Now Does Work For You
9 Mar
Summary
- Copilot Cowork is a new AI agent performing multi-step tasks across M365 apps.
- It leverages Anthropic's Claude technology within Microsoft's secure cloud.
- The tool promises to automate work, moving beyond simple conversational assistance.
Microsoft has unveiled Copilot Cowork, a new cloud-based AI agentic automation tool that operates within the Microsoft 365 Copilot suite. This advancement allows the AI to complete multi-step tasks on users' behalf across various Microsoft applications, moving beyond its previous contained functionalities.
This development is central to Microsoft's "Wave 3" update for M365 Copilot. It integrates agentic capabilities directly into Office apps and makes Anthropic's Claude models available in Copilot Chat. The company is also introducing new enterprise pricing tiers for AI productivity, security, and governance.
Copilot Cowork currently operates in Research Preview, with broader access expected through Microsoft's Frontier program in late March 2026. Enterprises can join the Frontier program for early access. The tool draws on a user's enterprise work data, including emails, conversations, and files, to execute tasks within M365's security and governance framework.
While closely resembling Anthropic's Claude Cowork applications, Copilot Cowork's cloud-based operation and deep integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem differentiate it. This allows it to access a comprehensive graph of enterprise work data, offering distinct advantages for organizations deeply embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Microsoft is positioning Copilot Cowork as the future of AI in the workplace, emphasizing its ability to execute tasks rather than just converse. This move signifies a significant shift towards AI agents that perform work autonomously, supported by a multi-model architecture designed to select the best AI for specific tasks.
