Microsoft’s recent Copilot Actions utilize artificial intelligence to automate repetitive tasks

At today’s Microsoft Ignite conference, the software giant is introducing Copilot Actions, a recent way for Microsoft 365 Copilot users to automate repetitive tasks. Microsoft is also adding AI agents to SharePoint, enabling PowerPoint to translate entire presentations and improving Copilot in Outlook to find the best time for meetings.

Copilot Actions, now in private preview, enables anyone to automate repetitive, everyday tasks. This could include automating meeting activity summaries in Teams, generating weekly reports, or even automating meeting preparations. Co-pilot actions are designed to be set-and-forget, much like an AI-powered macro that triggers and performs its tasks based on fill-in-the-blank prompts.

Microsoft is also working on improvements to Microsoft 365 Copilot across various Office applications. PowerPoint users will be able to translate presentations into one of 40 languages ​​early next year. Copilot Narrative Builder for PowerPoint will also utilize branded templates, speaker notes, and built-in transitions and animations to create a better first draft of your presentation. Copilot will also be able to utilize images from SharePoint to integrate with PowerPoint presentations.

Copilot in Excel will soon include a recent starter experience that suggests templates with headings, formulas, and visuals to create a spreadsheet. Microsoft is also working to improve the Copilot feature in Outlook to better schedule 1:1 meetings with colleagues at the best time and create a meeting schedule. This feature will be available to Copilot users in Outlook later this month.

In recent months, Microsoft has also tried to sell to businesses based on the Copilot Agents idea, including sales, service and finance agents. Now Microsoft is bringing AI agents to SharePoint so you can summarize documents, ask questions about data in SharePoint files, and create custom agents that can handle AI responses for a specific SharePoint site or list of files.