Microsoft has announced a significant update for Windows 11, introducing a fresh approach to artificial intelligence in the operating system. This new direction, referred to as 'agent OS', allows AI agents to carry out tasks, interact with files, and manage system components on behalf of the user.
According to The Verge, a key feature of this update is the AI agents appearing in the Windows 11 taskbar. They can be activated through the Ask Copilot function, operate in the background, and display their status in a compact window. For example, an agent can conduct data searches, automate routine file operations, or handle Microsoft 365 tasks.
The integration is optional, with users having the ability to disable agents in the settings if desired. Microsoft is also adding support for AI agents from other companies, with an infrastructure based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling agents to interact with system tools through a managed registry.
AI agents will operate in their own 'workspace' – an isolated and controlled environment with separate Windows accounts for each agent. This is designed for security purposes and to minimize the impact of AI errors on the main system.
Furthermore, Microsoft is expanding the implementation of Copilot in system applications. In File Explorer, Copilot can summarize a document, answer questions about its content, or draft an email based on the file. On PCs, Copilot Plus's Click to Do feature converts any visible table into an Excel document for further processing. Meanwhile, Word will feature automatic alt-text generation for images, and Outlook will receive AI-generated summaries of correspondence.