Microsoft's AI agent army
The era of AI specialization has arrived, with Microsoft preparing an army of purpose-built digital agents ready to transform how we work. With over a billion users set to experience a productivity revolution, this might just be the catalyst that truly brings agentic AI into everyone's daily life. Let’s get into it…
In today’s AI rundown:
Microsoft reveals specialized AI agents, automation tools
Google brings memory to Gemini
Improve public speaking skills with AI guidance
Figure's BMW robotic fleet levels up
5 new AI tools & 5 new AI jobs
More AI & tech news
Read time: 4 minutes
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LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Image source: Microsoft
The Rundown: Microsoft just introduced a suite of new specialized AI agents for Microsoft 365 at its annual Ignite Conference, alongside automated Copilot Actions, application development features, translation tools, and more.
The details: New agents include a Self-Service agent for HR / IT tasks, a SharePoint agent for document search and insights, a meeting note taker, and more. The update also includes tools for developers to build their own agents through Copilot Studio, with capabilities for autonomous background operation.
Copilot Actions enables users to create custom automation templates for recurring tasks like compiling weekly reports or summarizing communications. In 2025, Teams will get a real-time translation agent that can interpret and mimic conversations in up to nine languages while preserving speakers' voices.
Why it matters: By integrating AI agents directly into Microsoft’s billion-plus users' daily workflows, this release could normalize agentic AI faster than any previous rollout. Just as users now reach for specific apps or plugins to solve particular problems, specialized agents could soon become the natural first stop for getting work done.
Image source: The AI Ethics Boom: 150 Ethical AI Startups and Industry Trends
The Rundown: Google just rolled out a new memory feature for its Gemini AI assistant, allowing premium subscribers to teach the model their preferences and personal context for more tailored interactions.
The details: Gemini's memory system can store personal preferences and context across conversations, from coding preferences to dietary restrictions. The model will also adapt responses based on stored context, like recommending restaurants that match saved food preferences. Google confirmed that memories won't be used for training or shared between users and can be managed in a dedicated dashboard or toggled on/off. The launch comes just days after commentary from Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, revealing the company has prototypes with ‘near-infinite memory.’
Why it matters: 2025 might be the year of AI memory. While Gemini’s implementation is similar to ChatGPT’s early iterations of information recall, the groundwork is clearly being laid for massive change. If Microsoft’s ‘near-infinite’ memory prototype becomes a reality, how we interact with assistants will be completely transformed.
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Step-by-step:
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Set up your knowledge base with coach name, opening intro, and relevant speaking resources.
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Pro tip: Record your practice sessions with the AI coach to track your progress and identify areas for improvement over time.
Image source: Artificial Intelligence - HFS Research
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