Microsoft Adds Agent Mode and Office Agent to Office Applications

Microsoft 365 Copilot now includes Agent Mode and Office Agent, transforming it from a conversational assistant into a system that runs continuous, multi-step workflows. Agent Mode creates persistent background agents that monitor tasks, track document updates, and execute actions over time using Microsoft Graph for context. Office Agent orchestrates cross-application workflows across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook through a multi-agent framework. The system integrates with Microsoft Entra for identity management and respects organizational permissions and compliance standards. Developers can extend functionality through APIs and plugins compatible with OpenAI's function calling format.