Microsoft unveils new Copilot tools to help users build apps and automate tasks

Microsoft is taking productivity to the next level with new Copilot agents — App Builder and Workflows — letting users instantly build apps and automate tasks across Microsoft 365 using simple text prompts

Microsoft has expanded its AI capabilities within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem by introducing two new Copilot agents — App Builder and Workflows — designed to help users create apps and automate tasks using simple text prompts. The features are currently being rolled out to select subscribers through the company’s Frontier program, with broader availability expected in the coming months.

App Builder: Creating apps through text commands

The App Builder agent enables users to develop fully functional applications by describing their ideas in plain language. Acting as a no-code solution powered by AI, the tool can translate user prompts into working apps complete with dashboards, charts, forms, calculators, and other interactive components. Microsoft says the agent supports multi-turn conversations, allowing users to refine and modify their apps through iterative instructions.

Each version can be previewed in real time, making app creation accessible to users with little or no programming experience. The generated apps do not require any database setup — instead, Microsoft Lists serves as the backend to manage and store data seamlessly. For added convenience, completed apps can be shared through a simple link, similar to how users share Word or Excel files within the Microsoft 365 suite.

Workflows: Automating everyday tasks

The second AI agent, Workflows, is designed to streamline daily operations by automating repetitive processes across Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Planner, and Approvals. Users can instruct the agent in natural language to perform actions like sending reminders, managing meetings, or sharing updates. Adjusting automation rules is equally simple — users can modify tasks through follow-up prompts within the same chat.

Microsoft notes that Workflows is powered by the same infrastructure that underpins its enterprise-grade Agent Flows, ensuring enhanced reliability and integration across Microsoft’s productivity ecosystem.

These new additions further extend Microsoft’s commitment to AI-driven productivity, arriving shortly after Google’s launch of “vibe coding” in AI Studio — a sign that competition in the AI workspace innovation race is intensifying.