Microsoft Launches AI Agents for Smart Research and Data Analysis

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft on Tuesday announced the introduction of two AI-powered reasoning agents, Researcher and Analyst, designed to enhance productivity within Microsoft 365 Copilot. These agents utilize advanced research models and algorithms to provide fast, reliable insights based on a combination of work data and online resources.

The Researcher agent assists users with complex, multi-step research tasks by integrating various data sources, including emails, meetings, and third-party applications. Built on OpenAI’s deep research model, Researcher enables employees to create detailed market strategies, identify new product opportunities, and generate comprehensive reports, all tailored to the specific context of their work data.

“Researcher can leverage third-party data through connectors to enhance its capabilities, pulling in information from various platforms like Salesforce and ServiceNow directly into Microsoft 365,” said Chief Marketing Officer at Work. “This integration allows it to provide more thorough insights than users have had access to before.”

Meanwhile, the Analyst agent, based on OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model, aims to expedite data analysis processes. This tool can turn raw data from multiple spreadsheets into actionable insights, including demand forecasts and revenue projections, by employing chain-of-thought reasoning techniques similar to those used by human data scientists.

<p“Analyst thinks like a data scientist. It runs Python code for complex queries while giving users the ability to review the coding process in real time, ensuring transparency and understanding,” the CMO added.

Microsoft plans to roll out these features in April as part of the Frontier program, which offers early access to new Copilot innovations currently under development. Organizations will have a chance to experiment with these tools and provide feedback to shape their future.

The launch of these AI agents comes amid a competitive landscape, with Google also recently unveiling deep reasoning capabilities in its Gemini AI and xAI’s Grok 3 model adopting reinforcement learning techniques. As AI technology rapidly advances, the ability to provide reliable and in-depth information has become increasingly critical.

“While it’s exciting to see these advancements, we are mindful of the risks associated with misinformation generated by AI,” the CMO stated. “As more businesses integrate AI into their workflows, ensuring that these tools operate accurately and ethically remains a priority.”

In tandem with the new agents, Microsoft is also enhancing its Copilot Studio, a platform designed to manage and deploy customized agents for specific business needs. This allows organizations to create agents capable of executing complex tasks and workflows independently.

<p“Microsoft is committed to empowering every employee with tools that not only improve productivity but also transform how businesses operate,” the CMO remarked. “With AI acting as a knowledgeable partner, we’re excited to see how these tools are utilized in real-world applications.”

For more information on Microsoft’s new AI features, visit the official website.