Microsoft unveils new AI agents to enhance productivity at Ignite 2024

At the Ignite 2024 conference in Chicago, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced new AI tools designed to act autonomously for users in various tasks. These "agents" aim to enhance productivity by managing tasks like customer returns and invoice reviews. This shift comes as companies seek to improve AI capabilities beyond simple chatbots, which have limitations in planning and reasoning. Microsoft is preparing for a future where organizations will utilize a range of AI agents for different functions. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff criticized Microsoft's approach, suggesting it reflects concern over the performance of its existing AI assistant, Copilot. He described the rebranding of Copilot as "agents" as a sign of panic in response to competition.