Microsoft will allow organizations to create their own autonomous AI agents within Copilot Studio, the tech giant's platform for customizing and building so-called "copilot" assistants, starting next month.

The AI tools, some acting autonomously and others in concert with a worker, can complete tasks like researching and sorting through sales leads or updating a customer support ticket after a phone call.

Microsoft says agents can save companies as much as $50 million a year or offer the equivalent value of 'adding 187 full-time employees' by automating business processes.