SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Tuesday introduced “Microsoft Agent 365,” a new system designed to monitor and manage the fast growing number of AI agents increasingly used in workplaces. The company expects that by 2028, nearly 1.3 billion AI powered bots will be assisting businesses around the world, performing tasks on behalf of human workers.
The new tool allows companies to track, control, and secure these AI agents similar to how IT teams currently manage employees on a network. Microsoft said IT managers will now be able to identify misbehaving agents, quarantine them, and ensure authorized bots stay protected from cyber threats. The system supports both Microsoft-built agents and those created on platforms like Salesforce.
The launch comes as businesses continue experimenting with AI agents, with mixed results. While some organizations have seen promising outcomes such as automated coding and workflow improvements, others have struggled to integrate the technology raising concerns that the AI agent market may be overheating.
Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft’s commercial business, said the idea for Agent 365 came directly from customer demand. Companies, he said, want a clear way to understand how these agents operate and whether they provide real value.
He explained, “In supply chain work, you may have an inventory agent or an out-of-stock agent. Without a tool like this, it’s very difficult to see how all these AI pieces fit together.”
Microsoft announced the product during its Ignite technology conference in San Francisco. The tool is available for early access to customers with existing licenses.
Alongside Agent 365, Microsoft also introduced “Work IQ,” a feature helping companies build their own agents using the intelligence behind Microsoft 365 Copilot.
