Microsoft 365 Copilot’s New Computer Use Capability

Microsoft’s latest enhancement, Researcher with Computer Use in Microsoft 365 Copilot, ushers in this new era of autonomous, secure, and actionable AI-powered research, empowering professionals to accomplish more with less effort. You now have a proper AI assistant that not only gathers information but actively performs research tasks for you -navigating websites, synthesizing insights, and delivering customized outputs.

Standout Features of Researcher with Computer Use

This innovative tool transcends conventional web search by leveraging a secure virtual computer. Its key capabilities include:

• Accessing premium and authenticated web content even behind secure logins, with your permission.
  
  
• Acting on your behalf navigating sites, clicking through forms, or even building simple apps, all under your supervision.
  
  
• Producing diverse outputs from polished presentations and spreadsheets to code-driven applications.
  
  
• Integrating business data drawing from meetings, files, and chats to generate tailored, data-rich reports.

These features streamline complex workflows, making it easier to prepare for meetings, analyze trends, and create impactful deliverables, all while boosting your productivity and confidence.

How the Computer Use Feature Operates

Activating Computer Use is straightforward: simply select the option in the Researcher prompt. The system then initiates a Windows 365-based virtual machine, providing the AI with a cloud-based, isolated environment. This virtual workspace includes both visual and text browsers as well as a terminal, enabling advanced workflows like authenticated browsing and code execution with security top-of-mind.

Technical Architecture Overview

• Orchestration Layer: Coordinates tasks between the AI and specialized tools, streaming progress and insights directly to the user.
  
  
• Virtual Machine: Each session runs in a temporary, secure environment, ensuring privacy and isolation from your personal device.
  
  
• Sandboxed Operations: All activities remain within a tightly controlled setting, with no credentials or sensitive data retained after the session.
  
  
• Transparent Oversight: Users see real-time screenshots and terminal outputs, making the AI’s process fully visible and auditable.

This design guarantees that users remain in control, able to intervene as needed, whether it’s providing login credentials or confirming sensitive actions via secure, on-demand screen sharing.

Performance and Benchmark Results

In BrowseComp, an industry benchmark for multi-step web browsing, it outperformed previous iterations by 44%, successfully synthesizing information across fragmented sources. While on the GAIA benchmark, which emphasizes real-world data reasoning, it posted a 6% performance boost, demonstrating proficiency in handling complex, data-driven queries.

Advanced Security and Admin Controls

Recognizing the power of this technology, Microsoft has embedded robust security measures:

• Ephemeral environments no data or credentials persist beyond each session, ensuring privacy.
  
  
• Explicit user consent sensitive actions require clear approval, and all AI behaviors are observable.
  
  
• Network safety checks every web action is vetted for security and relevance.
  
  
• Enterprise data protection access to company data is disabled by default, with admins managing available sources and permissions.
  
  
• Comprehensive admin controls IT administrators can define usage policies, manage domain access, and audit user and AI actions to maintain compliance.

All browser interactions and resulting files are fully auditable, providing transparency and accountability across the organization.

Getting Started with Researcher

Researcher with Computer Use is now available to Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed customers via the Frontier program. Organizations eager to enhance research and productivity can find deployment guidance and further details in Microsoft’s official documentation.

Final Thoughts

With the introduction of Computer Use, Microsoft 365 Copilot is setting a new benchmark for AI-driven enterprise research. Secure, autonomous browsing, seamless integration with business data, and comprehensive oversight ensure that AI works for you efficiently, securely, and transparently.

Source: Microsoft 365 Copilot Blog