Microsoft is quietly testing a new breed of AI agents that could turn its Copilot assistant into a round‑the‑clock workhorse. The move, first reported by The Information on April 13, involves adapting OpenClaw—an open‑source platform that lets developers build locally‑run AI bots—for use inside Microsoft 365. Corporate vice president Omar Shahine told the outlet the company is "exploring the potential of technologies like OpenClaw in an enterprise context," signaling a shift toward more autonomous, task‑driven assistance.

OpenClaw gained attention earlier this year for its flexibility, but also drew criticism over security risks. Microsoft says its version will be "safer," restricting each agent to a narrow set of permissions. In practice, a marketing‑focused bot might only access campaign data, while a finance‑oriented counterpart would stay confined to accounting tools. This siloed design, the report notes, is intended to prevent a single compromised agent from sweeping across an entire organization.

What the prototypes can already do hints at a future where Copilot watches a user's Outlook inbox and calendar, then surfaces a curated list of suggested actions each morning. The system could also kick off multi‑step workflows—drafting a proposal, scheduling a meeting, or generating a sales forecast—without the user having to string together separate commands. By handling routine chores automatically, the always‑on Copilot aims to free employees for higher‑value work.

Microsoft plans to showcase these capabilities at its upcoming Build conference, which opens on June 2. Last year, the firm integrated Anthropic’s Claude chatbot into its suite, adding a "Claude Cowork" tool that helped with long‑running tasks. The OpenClaw‑style agents could represent the next step, giving Microsoft a chance to win back enterprise customers who have drifted toward competing AI platforms.

Security remains a key concern. OpenClaw’s open‑source nature means anyone can inspect the code, but it also opens the door to malicious modifications. Microsoft’s engineers are reportedly hardening the agents with sandboxing and strict permission controls, though the details are still under wraps. Industry observers will be watching to see whether the company can balance flexibility with the airtight security that corporate IT departments demand.

If the trial proves successful, the always‑on Copilot could become a default feature across Microsoft 365, reshaping how businesses think about digital assistants. Rather than a tool you invoke when you need help, Copilot would act as a silent partner, constantly scanning for opportunities to streamline work. The shift could redefine productivity software, nudging the market toward more proactive, AI‑driven experiences.

Used: News Factory APP - news discovery and automation - ChatGPT for Business