AI Agents
[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Copilot ]

 

AI Agents

Microsoft Ignite Online: November 2024 - https://ignite.microsoft.com/en-US/home

For Microsoft Ignite 2024, there were approximately 10,000 in-person attendees expected in Chicago. Additionally, around 250,000 participants joined the event online.

Sign up for free online access to the fire hose of online news on AI innovations, transformations and agents. Can you still register, even though the live event has finished? Yes you can!

Catch any sessions you missed and re-watch the ones you liked. Sign up to be notified when event details are released and registration opens for 2025 in San Francisco, California.

Here's one key topic to explore - Unlock the Value of Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio Nicole Herskowitz, Jeff Teper and Ryan Cunningham showcase the latest innovations in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Discover how new agent capabilities are transforming productivity and reimagining business processes, tapping into your data and your line-of-business systems with Copilot Studio and Power Platform. Through demos and real-world examples, you'll see how customers are harnessing the full potential of Copilot and Copilot Agents.

You can access session recordings after Microsoft Ignite 2024. All registered attendees, both in-person and online, will have access to on-demand recordings of the sessions. These recordings are available on the Microsoft Ignite website shortly after the live sessions conclude.

Microsoft Ignite 2024 featured approximately 600 individual sessions, most of these sessions are accessible online, including keynotes, breakout sessions, and selected live-streamed events.

Several important new updates were announced for Copilot Studio and Copilot agents. Here are the key highlights:

Copilot Studio Enhancements:
1. Advanced Tuning Capabilities:
o Copilot Studio now includes advanced tuning capabilities, allowing users to enhance the quality of their AI agents with the latest generative models and new knowledge sources.
2. Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Enhancements:
o Improvements in RAG enable better integration of third-party sources, boosting the performance and accuracy of AI agents.

New Copilot AI Agents:
1. Purpose-Built Agents:
o Microsoft introduced new AI-powered agents across Microsoft 365 Copilot to help organizations manage daily tasks more efficiently. These agents work alongside various applications within the Microsoft ecosystem.
2. Copilot Actions:
o New Copilot Actions automate everyday repetitive tasks with simple prompts. For example, you can set up actions to receive summaries of important action items or automate customer meeting preparations.
3. Real-Time Language Interpretation:
o One of the new agents provides real-time language interpretation in Microsoft Teams meetings, enhancing communication and collaboration in multilingual environments.

Copilot Control System:
• Enhanced Management:
o The Copilot Control System helps IT professionals manage Copilot and its agents securely, ensuring that AI tools are used effectively and safely within organizations.

Performance Improvements:
• Faster Responses:
o Copilot’s performance has been significantly improved, with responses now being twice as fast on average. User satisfaction with responses has also increased.

These updates aim to make Copilot Studio and its agents more powerful and user-friendly, enhancing productivity and collaboration across various Microsoft 365 applications.

Ignite 2024 introduces new AI agents and more for Microsoft 365 Copilot | ZDNET

Here is a summary of the out-of-the-box agents introduced at Microsoft Ignite 2024 for Microsoft 365 Copilot:

SharePoint Agents:

  • Designed to use data stored in SharePoint to increase productivity and enhance decision-making.
  • Can be customized for more in-depth workflows.

Facilitator Agent:

  • A robotic meeting assistant for Teams meetings and chats.
  • Takes notes in real-time, summarizes meetings, highlights key points, and helps focus on action items.

Interpreter Agent:

  • A real-time translation tool for Teams meetings.

Employee Self-Service Agents:

  • Provide interactive internal support for HR and IT staff.
  • Respond to frequently asked questions, help with benefits, payroll, leave queries, equipment requests, and basic IT troubleshooting.

Project Management Agents:

  • Assist with reminders, notifications, status reporting, task assignments, and progress tracking.
  • Automate time-consuming tasks for project managers.

These agents are pre-configured and ready for use, making it easy for businesses to deploy them without extensive customization

You can explore the full session catalog and access the recordings on the Microsoft Ignite website

Here are some key sessions:

AI and Automation
AI at Microsoft Ignite 2024: Keynotes and Sessions:
Description: Dive into the latest AI innovations and how they can transform your business.
Highlight: Keynotes by Microsoft leaders on AI advancements.

Unlock the Value of Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio:
Description: Learn how to leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance productivity with AI-driven tools.
Date: November 20, 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM PST.

Cloud and Infrastructure
Inside Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich:
Description: Explore the latest innovations in Azure with insights from Microsoft’s CTO.
Date: November 20, 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM CST (Available online).

Windows Server 2025: New Ways to Gain Cloud Agility and Security:
Description: Stay updated on the latest features and improvements in Windows Server 2025.
Date: November 19, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM CST (Available online).

Productivity and Collaboration
Connect & Collaborate: New in Microsoft Teams:
Description: Discover the latest features in Microsoft Teams designed to support hybrid work.
Format: Pre-recorded, Online Only.

What’s Next with the New Outlook for Windows:
Description: Get a sneak peek at the new features in Outlook for Windows, optimized for productivity.
Format: Pre-recorded, Online Only.

Security
Mastering Custom Plugins in Microsoft Security Copilot:
Description: Gain practical knowledge on building custom plugins for Microsoft Security Copilot.
Date: November 19, 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM CST (In Chicago only).

Data and Analytics
Unlock AI Potential with Fine-Tuning Strategies for SLMs and LLMs:
Description: Learn about fine-tuning strategies for pre-trained language models.
Date: November 20, 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM CST (In Chicago only).

Copilot Studio Enhancements:
Advanced Tuning Capabilities:
Copilot Studio now includes advanced tuning capabilities, allowing users to enhance the quality of their AI agents with the latest generative models and new knowledge sources.

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Enhancements:
Improvements in RAG enable better integration of third-party sources, boosting the performance and accuracy of AI agents.

New AI Agents:
Purpose-Built Agents:
Microsoft introduced new AI-powered agents across Microsoft 365 Copilot to help organizations manage daily tasks more efficiently. These agents work alongside various applications within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Copilot Actions:
New Copilot Actions automate everyday repetitive tasks with simple prompts. For example, you can set up actions to receive summaries of important action items or automate customer meeting preparations.

Real-Time Language Interpretation:
One of the new agents provides real-time language interpretation in Microsoft Teams meetings, enhancing communication and collaboration in multilingual environments.

Copilot Control System:
Enhanced Management:
The Copilot Control System helps IT professionals manage Copilot and its agents securely, ensuring that AI tools are used effectively and safely within organizations.

Performance Improvements:
Faster Responses:
Copilot’s performance has been significantly improved, with responses now being twice as fast on average. User satisfaction with responses has also increased.

These updates aim to make Copilot Studio and its agents more powerful and user-friendly, enhancing productivity and collaboration across various Microsoft 365 applications.

A new AI-powered calendar for a flexible workplace
OD809
Mark Grimaldi, Vani Soff
Online
Reimagine how and where you work with Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams, Outlook, and Places. Discover how our latest innovations come together to increase coordination, enhance collaboration, and optimize spaces in the workplace of the future. Learn how to seamlessly manage your schedule to maximize connections by ensuring you are in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, and how to make every one of those connections as collaborative and inclusive as possible.
What's new with Copilot Studio and agents
BRK165
Omar Aftab, Jonathan Beck
Nov 19 12:45 PM to 01:30 PM,
Additional Speakers: Edwina Fitzmaurice, Ray Smith, Johan VikströmOver the past 6 months, Copilot Studio has rapidly grown. Join us to hear the latest about how Copilot Studio is enabling organizations to build Agents and realize value from M365 Copilot. We'll highlight major recent improvements and discuss what comes next.
Elevating frontline operations with generative AI and Dynamics 365
BRK159
Ronit Bohrer Hillel, Hector Garcia Tellado
Nov 19 02:00 PM to 02:45 PM,
Additional Speakers: Brad HaeberleJoin us to explore how Dynamics 365 Field Service is driving significant transformation with the frontline workforce. Learn how generative AI can help managers, dispatchers and technicians improve workflows, maximize schedules, boost operational efficiency and accelerate decision-making. Gain insights from customer success and learn from their experiences.

Visit the Session catalog, Speaker directory, Partner Business Showcase, and Technical Showcase to explore more.

. . .

Microsoft 365 Copilot: Wave 2 | Microsoft September 2024 Event - 27+ minutes

Video Chapters:
0:00 Satya Nadella opening remarks
3:08 Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2
4:10 BizChat & Copilot Pages
8:18 Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps 
21:57 Copilot agents

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2024/09/16/microsoft-365-copilot-wave-2-pages-python-in-excel-and-agents/

Microsoft 365 Copilot | Copilot Studio agent builder - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo-vCFL96yQ - 1+ min

New Copilot agents: Supercharge Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Community Hub - ClintWilliams, Microsoft Oct 31, 2024

Microsoft 365 Copilot | Copilot Studio agent builder - 1 min video demo - a recap is below:

• Copilot agents boost business processes (00:00) – Microsoft 365 Copilot agents enhance individual and team capacity, scaling impact by integrating agents directly into everyday workflows.
• Agent Builder in BizChat simplifies creation (00:00) – The Agent Builder tool in BizChat makes it easy to create custom agents, allowing users to build tailored solutions without needing technical expertise.
• Example of a field service technician agent (00:31) – An agent can be created for field service technicians, with access to product catalogs and repair tickets, providing real-time step-by-step instructions.
• Customization and knowledge expansion (00:52) – Users can configure agents by adding resources like SharePoint sites and adjusting their names or images to fit company branding.
• Security and easy deployment (00:52) – The agents respect Microsoft 365 and SharePoint security protocols and can be tested, created, and shared easily within the team.

AI Agents Developed with Microsoft 365

Visual Creator

Allows users to generate images, and soon videos, using natural language prompts. This tool helps enhance work with compelling visuals.

Career Coach

Provides personalized career development suggestions, including role understanding, skill gap analysis, learning opportunities, and career transition plans. It aims to understand the user’s current role, identify career goals, assess skills and gaps, suggest learning opportunities, and create a detailed action plan for future growth.

Idea Coach

Facilitates brainstorming sessions and planning, offering creative exercises, idea organization techniques, and feedback for improvement. It uses a fun, collaborative tone, asks iterative questions, and provides detailed agendas and creative suggestions for running effective brainstorming sessions.

Learning Coach

Helps users understand complex topics by breaking them down into simple, intermediate, and advanced summaries. It also provides guided practice and learning plans, employing various techniques for learning complex topics, including glossaries, analogies, practice exercises, and structured study plans.

Prompt Coach

Assists users in creating effective and well-structured prompts for Copilot. It offers analysis, compliance checks, and improvement suggestions, asking for information on the goal, context, source, and expectations to generate effective prompts.

Autonomous Agents

These agents can handle complex tasks and make decisions within defined parameters. They can interact with other agents, make decisions, and execute tasks without constant human oversight. Examples include agents for customer service, sales development, and field-service technicians.

References

  1. New Copilot agents: Supercharge Microsoft 365 Copilot: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/new-copilot-agents-supercharge-microsoft-365-copilot/4266995
  2. Microsoft 365 Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot
  3. Microsoft 365 Blog: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog

 

Documentation and Training on Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio

You can find comprehensive documentation and training resources for Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio on the Microsoft Learn platform. Here are the key resources:

Microsoft Copilot Documentation and Training

  1. Microsoft 365 Copilot Documentation: Learn about Microsoft 365 Copilot, how to set it up, and how to use it effectively. You can access the documentation here.
  2. Microsoft Copilot Documentation: This resource provides an overview of Microsoft Copilot, including how to manage it for your organization. You can find it here.
  3. Learn How to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot: This learning hub offers curated training, documentation, videos, and other resources to help you get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Explore it here.

Copilot Studio Documentation and Training

  1. Microsoft Copilot Studio Documentation: Discover how to build AI-driven copilots with Microsoft Copilot Studio through online training courses, documentation, and videos. Access it here.
  2. Create Agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio - Training: This learning path introduces you to creating copilots, managing topics, and enhancing agents with Power Automate. Check it out here.
  3. Create Copilots with Microsoft Copilot Studio - Online Workshop: This workshop provides hands-on activities using Microsoft Power Platform and Copilot Studio. Learn more here.

These resources will help you get started with Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio, providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage these powerful tools effectively.

Supercharge your business with agents built with Microsoft Copilot Studio | Microsoft Copilot Blog - September 2024

. . .

Current Books on Microsoft 365 Copilot - https://amzn.to/4ft4aLx

. . .

"The Third Wave of AI Is Here: Why Agentic AI Will Transform The Way We Work"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oaeZPHjPW0 30 min video

Bernard Marr has 887K subscribers

This video has 4,017 views Nov 14, 2024 since first available on Nov 13

An interview with Silvio Savarese, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist of Salesforce AI Research, discussing how AI agents differ from traditional AI

  • AI Shift to Agentic Systems (00:50–02:07): Salesforce is evolving from using generative AI for content creation (e.g., emails, summaries) to deploying AI as agents that can automate entire tasks and act on behalf of organizations. These AI agents are different from assistants as they are designed to serve broader organizational needs, not just personalized to individuals.
  • AI Agents in Practice (03:57–05:07): Real-world applications of AI agents include customer service automation, where agents can answer questions and assist with processes like return policies. These agents are easily customizable and can be deployed on-demand with templates, providing businesses the flexibility to adjust their operations quickly.
  • Implications of 1 Billion AI Agents in the Workforce (05:47–07:01): The introduction of a vast number of AI agents will transform the workforce, with businesses leveraging AI to scale various departments (e.g., sales, customer service). This shift will lead to complex interactions among agents and between humans and agents, requiring trust and security measures.
  • Ethical and Technical Challenges (07:32–09:51): Ensuring that AI agents operate within safe and trusted boundaries is critical, especially in business & enterprise settings where incorrect actions can have serious consequences. Salesforce focuses on creating "guardrails" to prevent agents from making harmful decisions, emphasizing the need for human oversight in critical situations.
  • The Future of Work and Skills Needed (23:03–25:09): As AI agents become more integrated into organizations, humans will need to adapt by understanding AI's capabilities and limitations. Future workers will need to learn how to collaborate with AI agents, and eventually physical agents (like autonomous cars) could also become part of the workforce. The next wave of AI will involve both digital and physical agents working together seamlessly.

The Third Wave Of AI Is Here: Why Agentic AI Will Transform The Way We Work - Bernard Marr - Forbes, Nov 15, 2024

. . .

AI agents are autonomous or semi-autonomous software entities designed to perform specific tasks or roles within a digital environment. They leverage artificial intelligence techniques such as machine learning, natural language processing, and decision-making algorithms to operate independently or in conjunction with other agents and systems.

Impact on Marketing

AI agents are set to revolutionize marketing by enhancing efficiency, personalization, and data-driven decision-making. Here are some key ways they will change the landscape:

  1. Personalized Marketing: AI agents can analyze vast amounts of data to create highly targeted segments and deliver personalized content that resonates with individuals. This improves engagement and drives higher conversion rates.
  2. Automation: AI agents can automate various aspects of marketing, from ad optimization to social media scheduling, saving time and ensuring data-driven decisions.
  3. Predictive Analytics: AI agents help anticipate trends and consumer behavior, allowing marketers to stay ahead and make informed choices.
  4. Content Creation: AI-powered tools are revolutionizing content creation, design, and video editing, enabling marketers to produce personalized content tailored to individual preferences.

Impact on Jobs

The integration of AI agents into the workforce will bring both challenges and opportunities:

  1. Job Automation: AI agents can perform tasks such as data analysis, customer segmentation, and content creation faster and with fewer errors than humans. This could lead to the automation of certain marketing roles.
  2. Skill Shift: Marketers will need to adapt to a landscape where their traditional roles evolve. Skills in AI, data analysis, and strategic thinking will become increasingly important.
  3. Enhanced Creativity: AI agents can enhance creativity and strategic decision-making by providing deeper insights into customer preferences and behavior.

Market Size

The global AI agents market size was valued at USD .86 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45.1% from 2024 to 2030. This rapid growth is driven by increased demand for automation, advancements in natural language processing, and rising demand for personalized customer experiences.

AI agents are poised to become essential tools across various sectors, including customer service, healthcare, and finance, as they continue to evolve and improve their capabilities.

References:

1 www.grandviewresearch.com AI Agents Market Size, Share And Growth Report, 2030

2 techbullion.com The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Marketing and Creativity - TechBullion

3 contentgrip.com - Impact of AI on marketing jobs: challenges and opportunities

. . .

Here's another AI Agent alternative - released June 2024:

AI Pilot Creates your own Virtual Assistants, Agents & Experts

. . .

Andrew Ng Explores the Rise of AI Agents and Agentic Reasoning | Snowflake BUILD 2024 Keynote - Nov, 2024

12/06/2024

Copyright © 1997-2024 - TimeZone LLC.  All rights reserved.
Web Site: https://www.tzmc.us      Contact Info     e-mail  info@tzmc.us

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Copilot ]


Thanks for your support and checking out this page. Please support us by following, liking, and sharing this page via the email and social media buttons below.

We are a Microsoft Partner, Amazon Associate and an affiliate of other companies. We may earn from qualifying purchases.

Send us an email if you have any comments or suggestions - info@tzmc.us.

Use the Chatbot on the bottom right corner of each page to ask any questions or to get more information via email.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel, AI TZ Solutions, and click the Notify Bell to get the new video updates. Here are our Recent YouTube Video Playlists - https://www.youtube.com/@tzsolutions/playlists