These autonomous agents can operate continuously to approve customer returns and review shipping invoices, aiming to minimize supply-chain errors.

Conversely, Ece Kamar from Microsoft's AI Frontiers Lab expressed optimism about agentic AI, stating that effective systems must understand and adapt to real-world changes.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella opened a conference in Chicago on November 19, 2024, discussing the company's future in artificial intelligence.

The Ignite conference targets Microsoft's large business clientele, many of whom have observed limitations in current chatbot technologies, prompting a shift towards more capable agentic AI.

The focus of the conference was on the emerging trend of generative AI chatbots, now referred to as 'agents', which are capable of performing a wider range of tasks for users.

Microsoft anticipates a future where every organization will utilize a variety of AI agents, from basic functions to fully autonomous operations.

Microsoft's blog highlighted the potential benefits of AI agents for businesses, including their ability to manage shipping and returns efficiently, thereby reducing costly supply-chain errors.

Tech companies are now focusing on developing AI that can perform long-term planning and reasoning, enabling them to interact with the web and control devices autonomously.

OpenAI's recently announced o1 series enhances AI agents with advanced reasoning capabilities, allowing them to tackle complex tasks methodically.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff criticized Microsoft's rebranding of Copilot as 'agents', suggesting it reflects desperation and labeling the tool a 'flop' due to its inaccuracies.

Despite the potential of generative AI, the high costs associated with building and operating these technologies have led investors to question their viability.

Jared Spataro, CMO of Microsoft's AI at Work, described these agents as 'the new apps for an AI-powered world', emphasizing their potential to address significant workplace challenges.