The Rise of AI Agents: Are They Taking Over Workplaces?

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This Week in IT, I look at the Wave 2 Spring releases for Microsoft 365 Copilot, including new agents and search experience, and at whether data in Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index, which Microsoft says indicates AI is reshaping the future of work, stacks up.

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Episode overview

In this week’s episode, Russell discusses the recent Spring Wave 2 updates and features announced for Microsoft 365 Copilot, highlighting the release and the implications of AI in the workplace based on Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Report.

  • New AI Search Experience: Microsoft is enhancing the AI search experience in Microsoft 365 Copilot, providing more contextually aware results and integrating data from various applications connected to the Microsoft Graph. Users will be able to filter results based on modification date, document type, and creator.
  • Introduction of Agent Store: Two new agents, the Researcher agent and the Analyst agent, will be available for Copilot users. The Analyst agent will analyze data from various documents to provide insights, while the Researcher agent will assist in creating comprehensive documents based on tenant information.
  • Memory Personalization Feature: Copilot will be able to remember past interactions and learn user preferences to improve the relevance of responses.
  • Image Generator and Notebooks: An image generator will be introduced to aid in content design, and Copilot notebooks will return, allowing users to utilize notebook contents for contextual insights in projects.
  • Work Trend Index Insights: Microsoft’s Work Trend Index suggests that AI is reshaping the future of work, although doubts remain about the immediate impact of Copilot on organizational effectiveness due to low adoption rates.