Microsoft integrates Anthropic technology into Copilot Cowork as Agent 365 platform prepares for launch

Technology giant Microsoft has introduced Copilot Cowork, a new autonomous AI assistant developed in collaboration with Anthropic, designed to execute complex tasks with minimal human supervision. The move is part of Microsoft’s strategy to capture growing demand for autonomous AI agents, according to information reported by Reuters.

The solution expands the Microsoft 365 Copilot ecosystem, giving companies access to additional AI technologies beyond models developed by OpenAI.

How Copilot Cowork works

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Copilot Cowork can analyze data from emails, files and calendars to automatically generate spreadsheets, run reports or conduct research.

The tool is currently in testing and will be available to early-access users by the end of March. A certain usage allowance will be included in the Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription, priced at $30 per user per month.

Customers will also gain access to the Claude Sonnet models developed by Anthropic.

According to Charles Lamanna, president of Microsoft’s business applications and AI agents division, the new generation of tools changes the way users interact with artificial intelligence.

Agent 365 platform launch

To support the growing ecosystem of AI agents, Microsoft plans to launch Agent 365 on May 1.

The platform will allow organizations to manage and coordinate AI agents used by employees, providing a centralized environment for monitoring and controlling these tools.

According to data cited by CNET, Microsoft has already created more than 500,000 AI agents internally using the platform.

Cloud-based security

Microsoft emphasizes that the solutions operate exclusively in the cloud environment, enabling better control over data access and security.

Jared Spataro, who leads the company’s AI-at-Work initiative, said this architecture helps organizations understand exactly what information AI agents can access.

Market impact and investor concerns

The rapid expansion of agentic AI is also raising concerns about potential impacts on employment.

Recent layoffs at companies such as Amazon and Block Inc. have been linked to the growing adoption of AI technologies.

At the same time, investor concerns about the disruption of traditional software businesses contributed to a nearly 9% decline in Microsoft’s stock, according to Reuters.

Photo: Helsinki Times