MC1060863 – Out-of-the- box Agents in Microsoft 365 (archived)

Product:

Copilot, Delve, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Graph, Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Viva Insights, Microsoft Viva Learning, Planner, Project, SharePoint, Teams, Workplace Analytics

Platform:

Developer, Online, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

MC1060842

Details:

Summary:
Out-of-the-box agents in Microsoft 365 apps and Copilot Chat automate tasks and enhance productivity. New updates include the Skills agent (June 2025), Interpreter (public preview), Facilitator (public preview), and Project Manager (public preview). Users need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Admins can manage access and configurations via PowerShell and admin portals.

Details:
Updated May 28, 2025: We have updated the timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Out-of-the-box agents are available within Microsoft 365 apps or Copilot Chat, adding specialized skills and knowledge while automating tasks at hand. They handle aspects from simple, mundane tasks to complex, multi-step business processes, working alongside individuals or on behalf of teams. Today, we're announcing a new agent, Skill Discovery, and updates to agents available in public preview.
Skills: Available in June 2025, the new People Skills data layer will power a new Skills agent. Employees will be able to easily find experts in the organization, understand colleagues' skills, and make informed decisions about skill development. Leaders will get support on strategic workforce planning decisions with an up-to-date view of talent landscape strengths, gaps, and opportunities. For additional details on People Skills and Skills agent, please reference MC [Placeholder for number & link to People Skills MC post]
Interpreter: The Interpreter agent allows each user to enable real-time speech-to-speech interpretation in multilingual Teams meetings so they can speak and listen in the language of their choice, instantly overcoming language barriers. Interpreter works best in structured conversations where one person speaks at a time for longer periods. Users can opt-in to have Interpreter simulate their voice, helping others identify them more easily and follow the conversation more naturally. Alternatively, users can opt to choose from a set of default voices. Interpreter is now available in public preview.
Facilitator: The Facilitator agent works alongside you and your team in Teams meetings to enable more effective collaboration. During the meeting, Facilitator takes real-time notes, allowing everyone to co-author and collaborate easily. Now, Facilitator will also help moderate meetings by leveraging the set agenda from the meeting invite or identifying the goal from the meeting discussion. At the halfway point and before wrapping up the meeting, Facilitator will recap the decisions made and open questions, ensuring that important follow-up tasks and details are not missed. These two Facilitator capabilities are now available in public preview.
Project Manager: The Project Manager agent in Planner automates project and task management for all your team needs. Project Manager can automatically create a new plan from scratch or use a pre-configured template based on goals and relevant files you input. It can also complete tasks, including content creation. Now, Project Manager can generate a status report for any project in a matter of minutes. Reports will include a project summary, the reporting period, potential blockers, and more to keep team members informed. Collaborate with your team to refine the report and share it across surfaces including SharePoint newsletters to reach a broader audience.
[When will this happen:]
Skills: Will be generally available in June 2025.
Interpreter: Fully rolled out to public preview.
Facilitator: Public preview roll out of the new meeting moderation capability will start on early May 2025.
Project Manager: Public preview roll out of the new status report capability will start on late May 2025 (previously late April).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-04-24

updated:
2025-05-29

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

Microsoft 365 is introducing "out-of-the-box agents," including the Skills agent, Interpreter agent, Facilitator agent, and Project Manager agent, which function as virtual assistants to enhance workplace efficiency by handling tasks like skill matchmaking, real-time translation, meeting facilitation, and project management, all requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license for access and management through PowerShell and admin portals.

Direct effects for Operations**

Skills Agent Implementation
Without proper preparation, the introduction of the Skills agent may lead to confusion among users regarding its functionalities, resulting in underutilization and frustration. Users may not be aware of how to leverage the new features for skill discovery and development, impacting overall productivity.
   - roles: Employees, Team Leaders
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoftteams/interpreter-agent-teams

Interpreter Agent Rollout
The rollout of the Interpreter agent without adequate training may lead to miscommunication in multilingual meetings, as users may not understand how to effectively use the real-time interpretation features, potentially causing misunderstandings and reduced collaboration.
   - roles: Meeting Participants, Project Managers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoftteams/interpreter-agent-teams

Facilitator Agent Functionality
If the Facilitator agent is implemented without prior user training, teams may struggle to adapt to the new meeting moderation and note-taking features, leading to missed action items and ineffective meetings, ultimately affecting project timelines.
   - roles: Meeting Organizers, Team Members
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

Skills Agent Implementation
The Skills agent will enhance employee collaboration by allowing users to discover and connect with colleagues based on their skills. This facilitates better project assignments and team formations, leading to improved productivity and employee satisfaction.
   - next-steps: Conduct training sessions for employees on how to utilize the Skills agent effectively. Implement feedback mechanisms to continuously improve the system based on user experience.
   - roles: HR Managers, Team Leaders, Project Managers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoftteams/interpreter-agent-teams

Interpreter Agent Utilization
The Interpreter agent can break down language barriers in multilingual Teams meetings, fostering a more inclusive environment and enabling better communication among diverse teams.
   - next-steps: Promote the use of the Interpreter agent in meetings by providing guidelines and training. Monitor usage and gather feedback to assess effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.
   - roles: Team Leaders, Diversity and Inclusion Officers, Global Project Managers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoftteams/interpreter-agent-teams

Facilitator Agent for Meeting Efficiency
The Facilitator agent enhances meeting productivity by taking real-time notes and moderating discussions, ensuring that important points are captured and follow-up tasks are clearly defined.
   - next-steps: Integrate the Facilitator agent into regular meeting protocols and provide training on its capabilities. Evaluate meeting outcomes to measure the impact on productivity and collaboration.
   - roles: Project Managers, Operations Managers, Team Leaders
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/MicrosoftTeams/facilitator-teams

Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

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