Microsoft’s new Copilot agents get their own email, calendar — and a place in the org chart

On Friday, Microsoft unveiled its most significant update to Copilot yet, describing it as "a new OS for work" according to CEO Satya Nadella. The update encompasses every model, form factor, and task, and it places Autopilot, described by Nadella as a "proactive and long-running agent built for the enterprise," at the forefront of the four components.

The primary shift for developers lies in the underlying infrastructure. Microsoft is integrating the agent runtime into the enterprise layer and embedding elements like persistent identity, state, execution boundaries, and organizational context into Microsoft 365. This means developers no longer need to construct these components around a model themselves.

Autopilot, described as a proactive and long-running agent, can now take on tasks independently without needing prompts for each step. When set up, Autopilot receives a role and goal from the individual configuring it, enabling it to continue working in the background. Each Autopilot is assigned a unique Entra identity and agent user account, isolating its permissions and activity from those of the creator.

This shift moves much of the operational scaffolding required for long-running agents into Microsoft's infrastructure. Microsoft has also introduced a new Home experience that consolidates Chat and Cowork within the Copilot app. Developers can now generate apps, dashboards, and workflows using Code, which creates these elements from natural language input.

In a private preview, Autopilot agents receive a full Entra Agent ID user account complete with a productivity license, including their own email, calendar, OneDrive storage, Teams access, and a place within the organizational hierarchy. By establishing this user account on top of the agent identity, developers no longer need to manage shared service accounts or borrowed user credentials.