Microsoft has announced a major update for Windows 11 that introduces a new approach to artificial intelligence. The company refers to this initiative as the "agent OS" – a framework where AI agents can perform tasks, interact with files, and manage system components on behalf of the user.
According to The Verge, a key feature of this update is the AI agents on the Windows 11 taskbar. They can be activated through the Ask Copilot function, operate in the background, and display their status in a compact window. For instance, an agent can search for data, automate routine file operations, or handle tasks within Microsoft 365. 
This integration is optional, allowing users to disable the agents in settings if desired. Microsoft is also adding support for AI agents from other companies, with infrastructure based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling agents to interact with system tools through a managed registry.
AI agents will function within their own "workspace" – an isolated and controlled environment with separate Windows accounts for each agent. This is designed for security and to prevent any AI errors from affecting the main system.
Furthermore, Microsoft is expanding the implementation of Copilot in system applications. In the File Explorer, Copilot can summarize documents, answer questions about their content, or draft emails based on files. On PCs, Copilot Plus features Click to Do, which converts any visible table into an Excel document for further processing. Meanwhile, Word will introduce automatic alt-text generation for images, and Outlook will receive AI-generated summaries of email threads.