Microsoft has introduced a research preview of Copilot Tasks, a new AI capability designed to move beyond conversational responses and actively complete multi-step tasks in the background. Led by AI chief Mustafa Suleyman, the system aims to automate digital busywork using Microsoft's cloud infrastructure.
Unlike standard chatbots, Copilot Tasks allows users to describe a need in natural language and assign one-time or recurring jobs. The AI then operates autonomously, delivering a report upon completion. Example uses include transforming a syllabus into a structured study plan, monitoring apartment listings, managing emails, unsubscribing from promotions, and creating presentations from inbox content.
Suleyman emphasized the system's simplicity, stating it requires no complex setup or coding skills. Microsoft notes the AI will request user permission before taking significant actions like sending messages or making payments.
This launch positions Microsoft in the growing "agentic AI" field, competing with similar tools from OpenAI and Anthropic. Currently, Copilot Tasks is available to a limited group of testers, with a public waitlist accessible via Microsoft's website.