How Microsoft is transforming Windows into an 'agentic OS'
What's the story
Microsoft is gearing up to transform Windows into an "agentic OS" by integrating AI agents into the taskbar of Windows 11. The move is part of a larger effort to make the operating system more intelligent. Navjot Virk, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows experiences, said this transformation aims to give every user the "superpowers of AI."
AI integration
Integration of AI agents into Windows 11 taskbar
Microsoft is bringing a range of AI agents into the Windows 11 taskbar, including its own Microsoft 365 Copilot and third-party options. Pavan Davuluri, the chief of Windows, said this integration is not just about adding agents but making them a part of the OS experience. The new capabilities will let these agents perform background tasks while you work on something else or automate tedious admin tasks by accessing files and folders on your PC.
User interaction
Ask Copilot feature and agent notifications
The AI agent integration is part of a new feature called Ask Copilot, which merges local file search with Copilot capabilities. This way, users can quickly search for files/settings and start conversations with Microsoft 365 Copilot or launch AI agents directly from the taskbar. If an agent needs attention or completes a task, it will notify you and update its state on the taskbar using badges on their icons.
User control
Opt-in feature and developer opportunities
Microsoft has made the AI agent feature opt-in, giving users full control over when and how they engage with Copilot and these agents. This opens up a lot of potential use cases for developers, as Microsoft is doing a lot of platform-level work to make them possible. The company is embedding AI agent capabilities into core parts of Windows via Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allows these agents to discover tools and other agents through a secure managed on-device registry.
Security protocols
AI agents' workspace and security measures
AI agents will have their own workspace, separate from the user's Windows 11 desktop. This "contained policy-controlled auditable execution environment" gives a place where the agents can operate with software in an analogous fashion to what people do. Each agent operates using its own Windows account in this sandbox-like environment, which is all about security and preventing any potential inaccuracies from affecting the main Windows session.