Microsoft has moved its Copilot AI from conversation to action with Copilot Tasks, an autonomous system that completes multi-step work in the background using its own computer and browser. The feature, announced earlier this week as a research preview, marks Microsoft's entry into the competitive AI agent market against OpenAI's Codex, Anthropic's Claude Code, and Google's Gemini Agent.
Copilot Tasks operates as a self-executing to-do list that handles everything from email management to event planning without user supervision. Users describe what they need in natural language, and the system plans workflows, coordinates across apps and services, then reports back when finished.
The AI runs on dedicated cloud infrastructure rather than local devices, allowing it to browse websites, create documents, send emails, contact businesses, and take real-world actions independently. The system can manage recurring tasks like surfacing urgent emails with draft replies each evening or tracking apartment listings every Friday. It transforms syllabi into complete study plans with practice tests and scheduled focus time.
For personal logistics, it plans birthday parties by finding venues, sending invitations, collecting RSVPs, monitors hotel rates for price drops and auto-rebook reservations, and organizes subscriptions to cancel unused services.
Microsoft emphasizes this isn't autopilot but copilot functionality where users retain final control. The system asks for consent before performing meaningful actions like spending money or sending messages on a user's behalf.
Users can review plans before execution and pause or cancel tasks at any point during operation.
Copilot Tasks launches into a limited research preview available only to a small group of testers initially. Microsoft plans to expand access gradually over coming weeks based on feedback about reliability, safety controls, and performance.
Interested users can join a waitlist through Microsoft's website for potential inclusion in the testing program. The company positions this development as the second chapter of AI following conversational chatbots.
"This is a moment we've been building toward since we first launched Copilot: the shift from chat to actions,"
Microsoft stated in its announcement blog post. The feature targets general consumers alongside developers and enterprise customers without requiring technical configuration or complex workflow setups.
