Workforce Transformation Agents

Several innovative agents have been introduced with M365 Copilot, each aimed at supporting workforce transformation.

The new People Agent is designed to assist users in identifying the most suitable individuals within an organization. As organizations often evolve and grow larger over time, traditional organizational charts may not always indicate where subject matter experts reside. The People Agent locates individuals with relevant expertise and provides recommendations on whom to consult.

The Upskilling Agent is dedicated to facilitating continuous learning. Acquiring new skills can be challenging, and this agent addresses that by offering users customized learning plans and suggestions tailored to their roles and existing competencies.

Finally, the Workforce Planning Agent aids managers and leaders in efficiently analysing resource allocation, identifying potential gaps, and making recommendations for organizational restructuring.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-new-microsoft-365-copilot-agents-to-drive-workforce-transformation/4470689

Project Opal

Project Opal is an innovative AI Agent integrated within M365 Copilot. Its primary function is to execute repetitive and manual tasks based on user guidance and instructions. Project Opal efficiently gathers information and acts upon it, facilitating the completion of workflows and processes by focusing on task execution. Common use cases include automating evidence collection, streamlining group membership access, submitting timesheets and HR leave requests, and managing user onboarding checklists.

Project Opal workflows leverage the M365 Copilot Computer Use feature, which initiates a W365 session to perform actions on behalf of the user. Users are able to observe Project Opal as it carries out tasks, modify interactions, and actively participate in the process when necessary.

This agent employs an advanced reasoning model to generate structured plans and sequentially accomplish assigned objectives. The Computer User capability enables Project Opal to efficiently complete tasks for human users while allowing real-time observation and participation.

Project Opal presents substantial opportunities for organizations seeking to automate routine activities that employees routinely manage. Tasks such as submitting monthly expense reports or compiling weekly status updates can be streamlined and automated through this solution.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-project-opal-a-new-way-to-get-task-based-work-done/4470999

M365 Copilot Office Agents

M365 Copilot continues to broaden its functionality, offering expanded support for content and document creation. The platform now features dedicated Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents within M365 Copilot. Users simply access the M365 Copilot Chat, initiate the desired agent, and request document creation. M365 Copilot will then gather any necessary additional information before generating the initial draft. Once the draft is ready, users can seamlessly open and further refine the document with ongoing assistance from M365 Copilot.

While there are other tools that offer similar capabilities, M365 Copilot provides several key advantages:

• First, it utilizes genuine Office applications to generate content, ensuring that files produced are of high quality and fully compatible with Office. This approach also mitigates security risks by preventing unsafe elements such as macros or external links from accessing your data.
• Second, all generated results are grounded in your organization’s enterprise data, incorporating comprehensive permission checks throughout the process. This feature is particularly significant, as internal organizational data often holds greater value than publicly available information.
• Third, all documents created are securely stored in OneDrive, providing a compliant and protected environment for your organizational data.
• Fourth, this solution employs multi-step AI reasoning, emulating the workflow of a human consultant—planning, researching, drafting, and reviewing. This structured methodology enhances the accuracy of the results delivered.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-word-excel-and-powerpoint-agents-in-microsoft-365-copilot/4470604

M365 Copilot Voice

In early November, Microsoft introduced a new voice capability within M365 Copilot. This feature is straightforward to use and has proven effective during brainstorming sessions. Initially launched for the M365 Copilot mobile application, it is now also available in core M365 apps such as Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.

Within the M365 Copilot App, users simply press the voice button to initiate an interactive conversation with Copilot. The system can clarify input, refine content, answer questions, and offer next step suggestions. Users may voice their thoughts or inquiries and engage in a natural conversational exchange. Feedback can be provided at any moment, prompting Copilot to adjust its responses accordingly.

In applications like Word or PowerPoint, users can discuss lengthy documents verbally with Copilot. In Outlook, Copilot can provide summaries of daily messages and assist in drafting responses.

Microsoft has noted that users tend to interact with Copilot twice as much using voice compared to text input. To begin, simply select the “Start a new voice chat" option.

References:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-voice-in-microsoft-365-copilot-a-more-productive-way-to-work-on-the-/4466034

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/voice-turns-microsoft-365-copilot-into-your-thought-partner-/4469040

Create Alt Text with M365 Copilot

Including detailed Alt Text in your Word and PowerPoint files greatly enhances accessibility for all users. Now, with the help of M365 Copilot, you can provide even better descriptions. Simply open your document and use the check accessibility feature. When Alt Text is missing, just click the button to have it created automatically. M365 Copilot will then generate a thoughtful description for your chart or image.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/richer-alt-text-in-word-and-powerpoint-powered-by-generative-ai/4466593