Imagine compressing hours of research or analysis into just a few minutes. Microsoft’s latest update to Copilot brings this vision to life, introducing Researcher and Analyst, two specialized AI agents designed to transform the way professionals tackle challenging tasks in the workplace. With their general availability, anyone with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license can now access these tools, promising a significant leap in productivity and decision-making speed.
Key Innovations: Researcher and Analyst
Researcher takes on the heavy lifting of multi-step research. By blending OpenAI’s research model with Copilot’s orchestration and deep search functions, it delivers detailed, high-quality insights. Early users report that Researcher excels at evaluating trade impacts, preparing negotiation strategies, and providing actionable intelligence before important meetings.
Analyst acts as a virtual data scientist, converting raw data into clear, actionable insights using advanced reasoning techniques. Leveraging OpenAI’s o3-mini model, Analyst employs a step-by-step approach to solve complex problems and can execute Python code for sophisticated queries. Not only can users view and verify the code, but they can also utilize Analyst to assess customer trends, analyze the effects of discounts, or guide business strategies with meaningful data visualizations.
Simple Access, Broad Application
Both agents are built directly into the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and are easy to find, thanks to pre-pinned access. Users with a Copilot license can take advantage of up to 25 combined queries each month.
While Researcher supports 37 languages, Analyst currently covers eight, with further expansion planned. Setting up is straightforward, admins manage access via Microsoft’s dedicated tools, and users can begin with suggested prompts or tailor their own queries to match specific needs.
- Researcher can compile timelines of product releases using trusted sources, streamlining information gathering.
- Analyst empowers users to analyze, visualize, and interpret data trends crucial for informed business decisions.
For instance, Microsoft’s Vice President for Communications Strategy used Researcher to quickly build a comprehensive timeline of product launches, highlighting the agents’ practical value in real-world scenarios.
Shaping the Future of Work with AI
This milestone illustrates Microsoft’s commitment to equipping every employee with AI-powered capabilities. By placing advanced expertise at users’ fingertips, Researcher and Analyst help professionals and teams achieve more, reducing effort while enhancing the quality of insights. Whether conducting deep research or tackling complex analytics, these agents make smart work possible for everyone.
Anyone with a Copilot license can try these features now in Copilot Chat. As Microsoft continues to broaden language support and improve agent intelligence, Researcher and Analyst are set to become essential tools in every knowledge worker’s arsenal.
Takeaway
The arrival of Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot marks a new era in AI-boosted productivity. These agents not only save valuable time but also elevate the standard of work, heralding a smarter, faster way to get things done.
Source: Microsoft 365 Blog
Researcher and Analyst Now Available in Microsoft 365 Copilot