Breaking News
Microsoft on Tuesday rolled out tools that let Microsoft 365 Copilot users build applications and automate workflows through conversational prompts, expanding the AI assistant's capabilities to include software development tasks previously reserved for IT departments.
The new App Builder and Workflows agents, available to customers enrolled in the company's Frontier early access program, allow users to create business applications with dashboards, charts, and data storage using natural language descriptions. A lightweight version of Copilot Studio is also now accessible directly within Copilot for building specialized AI agents.
"Using these agents and Copilot Studio, Copilot now enables employees to turn ideas into impact by creating apps, workflows, and agents—just as easily as having a conversation," Charles Lamanna, Microsoft president of business and industry Copilot, said in a blog post.
The new App Builder and Workflows agents, available to customers enrolled in the company's Frontier early access program, allow users to create business applications with dashboards, charts, and data storage using natural language descriptions. A lightweight version of Copilot Studio is also now accessible directly within Copilot for building specialized AI agents.
"Using these agents and Copilot Studio, Copilot now enables employees to turn ideas into impact by creating apps, workflows, and agents—just as easily as having a conversation," Charles Lamanna, Microsoft president of business and industry Copilot, said in a blog post.
No additional licensing for app building
The features are included in existing Microsoft 365 Copilot subscriptions at $30 per user per month, with no additional licensing required. Microsoft estimates roughly 100 million users have access to the Microsoft 365 platform.
App Builder stores data in Microsoft Lists, Microsoft's lightweight database system, and allows users to share finished applications via links similar to document sharing. The Workflows agent automates routine tasks across Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Planner by converting natural language instructions into automated processes.
Shadow IT concerns emerge
But the rollout arrives as enterprises grapple with shadow IT—unsanctioned software and systems that employees adopt without official approval. The proliferation of employee-created applications could create governance headaches for IT administrators already struggling to maintain visibility into their technology estates.
Microsoft acknowledged the concern but suggested most employee-built apps don't warrant IT oversight.
The company said administrators can access or disable the App Builder and Workflows features through an agent inventory section in the Microsoft 365 admin center, providing granular control at the group level. The system includes unified permissions, visibility, and controls across the organization, Microsoft said in documentation.
Apps and workflows created by departing employees remain accessible for 60 days, during which managers can claim ownership—similar to how OneDrive files are handled when someone leaves. The approach mirrors existing Microsoft 365 content lifecycle policies.
Microsoft emphasized that the new capabilities are built on the same enterprise-grade security, compliance, and reliability foundations as Microsoft 365 Copilot. The agents respect user context and enforce individual permissions and role-based access controls, according to the company.
The Workflows agent is optimized for end users but built on the same infrastructure that powers Agent Flows in the full Copilot Studio experience, providing what Microsoft called enterprise-grade reliability for personal automation.
When users are ready to scale beyond the lightweight experience, the full Copilot Studio unlocks advanced workflows, model selection, and collaborative multi-agent systems that can handle more complex enterprise-wide deployments. The company positions this as a path from individual productivity tools to IT-led solutions.
The timing coincides with growing user frustration over Microsoft's AI push across its product line. Some users have given the Microsoft 365 mobile app one-star ratings after a recent update prioritized Copilot features over traditional file access, according to user reviews.
The Workflows agent is available now through the Microsoft 365 Agent Store for Frontier program participants, with App Builder rolling out this week. Users can also create personalized agents by selecting Create agent within Copilot.
Microsoft's Frontier program provides early access to the latest agents and features for select Microsoft 365 Copilot customers. The company has not disclosed criteria for program participation or when the features will reach general availability for all subscribers.
See What’s Next in Tech With the Fast Forward Newsletter
Tweets From @varindiamag
Nothing to see here - yet
When they Tweet, their Tweets will show up here.
