Microsoft introduced AI agents for its Dynamics 365 platform, aimed at enhancing operations in sales, customer service, finance, and supply chain management. This move follows a similar announcement by Salesforce and is expected to save companies around $50 million annually, equating to the productivity of 187 full-time employees. The new agents will automate various tasks, such as qualifying sales leads and managing supplier communications, and will be available for public preview starting later this year, extending into early 2025. Microsoft anticipates that organizations will increasingly rely on various autonomous agents to improve efficiency and decision-making processes.
OpenAI has launched a new Windows desktop application for its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, following its earlier release for macOS. Currently available in preview for ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, Team, and Edu subscribers, the app allows users to access the AI assistant via a keyboard shortcut from anywhere on their PC.
OpenAI has updated ChatGPT’s Canvas feature to include tracked changes, allowing users to see modifications made to generated text or code. This update, rolled out on October 20, 2024, highlights additions in green and deletions in red, enhancing the editing experience similar to tools like Google Docs.
Why do we care?
Microsoft’s AI agents and OpenAI’s product updates highlight two shifts: the deepening integration of AI in business processes and the need for intuitive, accessible AI interfaces. For tech service providers, the key takeaway is the growing importance of expertise in AI deployment, training, and optimization to support businesses in transitioning to AI-enhanced workflows.
With reports of Copilot adoption being low, the key trend to watch here is how these more specialized agents delivery value, and if customers respond.