Microsoft unveiled new AI agent customization and oversight features at its annual Build developers conference on Monday, furthering its strategy of equipping businesses and individuals with custom-made AI systems.
The tech giant introduced Copilot Tuning, a feature that enables enterprise customers to train custom models and agents using internal company data and processes to perform specific tasks without requiring coding knowledge.
Jared Spataro, chief marketer of Microsoft’s AI at Work division, explained that a legal firm can create an agent to automate document creation and draft arguments blending institutional knowledge with client-specific context. Microsoft assured that it will not use proprietary customer data to train its foundation models.
Copilot Tuning will be available starting in June as part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning Early Adopter Program. Additionally, Microsoft debuted Multi-Agent Orchestration, available in public preview, which synchronizes individual agents into a single network, allowing them to share information and work together to complete tasks.
A suite of new tools gives developers more control over fine-tuning agents built in Copilot Studio, including:
- Azure AI Foundry Models: Customers can bring their own AI models into Copilot Studio.
- Entra Agent ID: Automatically assigns new AI agents with an identity and organization-specific security clearance.
- Purview Information Protection: Strengthens data security across agents.
- Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit: Enables users to build agents using their preferred AI stack, including a software development kit and the Teams AI Library.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs: Allow developers to embed data from Copilot Chat into their organization’s internal apps.
- Solution Workspace: Provides a single, integrated digital environment to build apps via natural language prompts.
- Agent Feed: Acts as a direct interface to monitor agents and their performance across tasks.
These new features align with Microsoft’s focus on customization, specialization, and personalization in AI, allowing individuals and organizations to access custom-trained AI tools tailored to their data and needs.
Microsoft has been investing in AI agents and small language models, introducing Copilot Studio in late 2023, a platform for building custom agents. The company’s tailored approach aims to set it apart in the AI arms race.
“Today’s announcements further our ambition to give developers the tools they need to empower every employee with a Copilot,” Spataro wrote.
