Microsoft’s new Copilot Actions use artificial intelligence to automate repetitive tasks

At Microsoft’s Ignite conference today, the software giant is introducing Copilot Actions, a new way for Microsoft 365 Copilot users to automate repetitive tasks. Microsoft is also adding AI agents to SharePoint, allowing PowerPoint to translate entire presentations and improving how Copilot works in Outlook to find the best time for meetings.

Copilot Actions, now in private preview, enables anyone to automate repetitive everyday tasks. That could include automating a summary of meeting actions from Teams meetings, generating weekly reports, or even automating meeting preparation. Copilot Actions are designed to be something you set and forget, much like an AI-powered macro that kicks in and does its thing using some fill-in prompts.

Microsoft is also working on improvements to Microsoft 365 Copilot across a number of Office apps. PowerPoint users will be able to translate presentations into one of 40 languages ​​early next year. PowerPoint’s Copilot Narrative Builder will also take cues from brand templates, speaker notes, and built-in transitions and animations to create a better first draft of a presentation. Copilot will also be able to use images from SharePoint to integrate into PowerPoint presentations.

Copilot in Excel will soon include a new launch experience that suggests templates with headings, formulas and visuals to create a spreadsheet. Microsoft is also working to improve Copilot in Outlook so that it can better schedule 1:1 meetings with colleagues at the best time and create a meeting agenda. This will be available to Copilot in Outlook users at the end of this month.

Microsoft has also been trying to sell companies on the idea of ​​Copilot Agents in recent months, including agents for sales, service and finance. Now, Microsoft is bringing AI agents to SharePoint, so you can summarize documents, ask questions about data across SharePoint files, and create custom agents that can handle AI responses about a specific SharePoint site or list of files.