Microsoft has introduced Copilot Cowork, a feature in Microsoft 365 Copilot that allows its AI assistant to execute tasks across workplace applications. The system integrates capabilities from Anthropic Claude models.
“Working closely with Anthropic, we have integrated the technology behind Claude Cowork into Microsoft 365 Copilot,” the company said in its blog post.
The company is offering early access through its Frontier program as it prepares a wider rollout.
Copilot Cowork allows users to describe a task and have Copilot convert the request into a workflow that runs across Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook, Teams and Excel.
“Over the last year, we have been pushing Copilot toward taking action,” Microsoft said. “That means completing tasks, running workflows, and doing work on your behalf.”
According to the company, Copilot Cowork converts a request into a plan that runs in the background. Users can review steps, approve suggested actions, pause execution or provide clarification when needed.
Users can describe the outcome they want, and Cowork automatically grounds the task in their emails, meetings, messages, files and data.
The system uses signals from Microsoft 365 apps through what the company calls Work IQ to understand context and perform actions.
Microsoft said the tool can handle several work scenarios. For example, Cowork can review a user’s Outlook calendar, identify conflicts and suggest rescheduling or declining meetings while adding focus blocks.
In another use case, it can prepare material for customer meetings by collecting information from emails and files, creating a briefing document, generating an analysis and producing a presentation deck stored within Microsoft 365.
The tool can also conduct company research by collecting earnings reports, regulatory filings, analyst commentary and news, and organising the results into an email summary, research memo and Excel workbook.
For product launches, Cowork can compile competitive comparisons, draft value propositions, create presentation material and outline milestones and owners for the launch plan.
Microsoft said Copilot Cowork runs within Microsoft 365 security and governance controls, including identity permissions, compliance policies and auditability. The system operates in a sandboxed cloud environment so tasks can continue running across devices.
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