Microsoft 365 Copilot Expands With New AI Agent Tools for Work
Updated on March 16, 2026 5 min read
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Copilot Cowork in Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s execution layer for long-running, multi-step work inside Microsoft 365. It builds a plan, shows checkpoints, asks for approval before applying changes, and is moving from Research Preview to broader Frontier program access in late March 2026.
Which Microsoft 365 apps are getting the new agent features first?
Microsoft said the new app-native Copilot experiences are already generally available in Excel and Word. PowerPoint and Outlook are rolling out over the coming months, while built-in agents also connect the experience back to Copilot Chat.
What is Agent 365, and how much does it cost?
Agent 365 is Microsoft’s control plane for observing, securing, and governing agents across an organization. Microsoft said it will be generally available on 1 May 2026 at 15 USD per user per month.
How does Microsoft’s move compare with other office-suite AI tools?
Google announced general availability for Workspace Studio on 4 December 2025, with no-code agent creation inside Workspace. The broader pattern is that productivity suites are shifting from chat assistants toward embedded workflow agents.