Microsoft Introduces AI Agents for Research and Data Analysis in 365 Copilot

Researcher and Analyst, powered by OpenAI models, will roll out in April 2025 as part of the Frontier program, combining internal and external data for enhanced productivity.

Microsoft unveiled two new AI agents, Researcher and Analyst, within its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform to enhance workplace productivity.
Researcher integrates internal work data with external sources to create detailed reports, leveraging OpenAI's deep research model and Microsoft's advanced search capabilities.
Analyst uses OpenAI's o3-mini reasoning model for advanced data analysis, including running Python code and exposing its iterative reasoning process for transparency.
Both agents will be available to Microsoft 365 Copilot customers in April 2025 through the Frontier program, which provides early access to experimental features.
Microsoft acknowledges challenges such as potential inaccuracies in AI outputs, emphasizing the need for oversight and transparency in enterprise applications.