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Say hello to Autopilots from Microsoft
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- Microsoft reveals Autopilots, its next generation of AI agents
- Autopilots will operate in the background, carrying out tasks on your behalf
- Microsoft Scout is the first Autopilot, linking into your Microsoft 365 apps
Microsoft has announced the launch of Autopilots, a new form of AI agents which can run autonomously in the background, letting you focus on the tasks which really matter.
Speaking at Microsoft Build 2026, CEO Satya Nadella unveiled Scout, the company's first Autopilot, similar to OpenClaw offering, built into Copilot and Microsoft 365.
Autopilots will run in the background, learning how you work and operate, with the ability to take action with needing to be prompted, carrying out tasks independently.
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Microsoft Scout
"You can think of Autopilots as enterprise-grade Claws - these are autonomous, long-running agents with full enterprise compliance that run in your tenant," Nadella noted.
"They're a totally new way to reduce toil and get you back to what you love."
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Users can customize Autopilots however they like, including names and styles of speaking, as well as full control over their context and memory. They will also be able to set specific permissions and policies for the Autopilots to adhere too, making sure they don't do anything they shouldn't.
"Today we are introducing a new category of agents called Autopilots," Microsoft said in a blog post announcing the news. "Autopilots are always-on agents that work autonomously, with their own identity, and act on your behalf."
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Scout will be able to take on a wide number of tasks, including keeping an eye on your Outlook inbox and Teams messages, alerting you to calendar information or specific emails, to monitor for anything which may need your attention, such as helping you prepare for meetings and tasks.
"Scout works where you work...that's the future of what we think of, of the Copilot ecosystem itself," Nadella added.
Frontier users can try Scout now - Nadella said he was already using it himself - with Microsoft set to build out the platform over the coming months, adding more agents and also the ability for users to build their own Autopilots.
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TOPICS Microsoft AI CATEGORIES AI Platforms & Assistants
Mike MooreSocial Links NavigationDeputy Editor, TechRadar ProMike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.
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