Microsoft 365 Copilot Introduces Researcher: A Powerful AI Tool for In-Depth Research

Microsoft is joining the race with its new deep research tool, Researcher, which will be integrated into the Microsoft 365 Copilot platform. This tool is designed to enhance productivity and make research easier across web, mobile, and desktop applications.

While other competitors like Google Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT have established their own variants of deep research tools, Microsoft has opted for a unique branding with the Researcher agent. The goal remains similar: to help users generate thoroughly researched material on specific topics or to create actionable plans efficiently.

To clarify, Microsoft 365 Copilot is essentially a rebranding of the original Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office). It differs from the standalone Copilot application, which acts like a general-purpose AI chatbot.

How Does the Researcher Agent Work?

At its core, the Researcher agent leverages OpenAI’s Deep Research model. However, its functionality goes beyond what other tools offer by allowing access to both external internet data and internal company documents. This means that, in addition to gathering information from the web, Researcher can also analyze internal emails, chat logs, meeting transcripts, calendars, and shared documents.

Moreover, the Researcher agent can adapt to the needs of individual users. It can be set up to pull data from various sources, whether it's from the internet or users’ specific company files. This flexibility enhances its effectiveness in producing detailed research documents.

Why It Stands Out

The unique proposition of the Researcher agent lies in its ability to gather information not just from the internet, but also from a company’s internal resources. This dual capability provides businesses with significant advantages, especially since many enterprises have developed custom AI solutions to streamline their internal processes using the Copilot Studio tool.

According to Microsoft, the Researcher agent uses an enterprise knowledge graph to integrate user and organizational context. This includes vital information about people, projects, and products, taking into account the unique connections among these elements within a user’s work environment. In initial tests, it was reported that the Researcher agent saved users between 6 to 8 hours weekly when performing research tasks.

Microsoft plans to commence the rollout of Researcher to Microsoft 365 Copilot customers beginning in April. This new function will be introduced through a program named Frontier, which will offer early access to new Copilot tools, similar to the Insider Preview initiative used for testing Windows OS.

Microsoft, AI, Research