The Copilot Connection

This week, Zoe and Kevin dig into Copilot Cowork and Agent 365. Fresh from a week at the Microsoft campus in Seattle, Kevin shares his key takeaways from MVP Summit — including a surprising amount of cross-product collaboration and a hands-on experiment building a conference bingo app entirely using GitHub Copilot's coding agent. Zoe and Kevin then dive into two of the biggest recent announcements: Copilot Cowork, now available in Frontier tenants, which takes Copilot from answering questions to actually taking action on your behalf, from organising your inbox to scheduling your week and creating reusable skills; and Agent 365, Microsoft's control plane for agents, launching on 1 May, which brings observability, governance, and threat protection for all your agents in one place. They also cover the practical steps to enable Cowork in your tenant, the current data residency considerations for European organisations, and the open licensing questions still to be resolved before general availability. Useful links: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-agent-lab-soc-opskevmcdonk/mvp-summit-bingo: Web app for MVPs to track all those common phrases we hear over the week. Who will get bingo firsthttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2026/03/09/copilot-cowork-a-new-way-of-getting-work-doneGet started with Copilot Cowork (Frontier) | Microsoft LearnMicrosoft Agent 365 documentation | Microsoft Learn

Microsoft helped us make an episode this week but dropping some big Copilot news! In this episode, Zoe and Kevin dig into some of the news related around Copilot Wave 3, talk about what the recent org changes at Microsoft will mean and also highlight some of the upcoming events going on. Useful links: Copilot Community Conference 2026Experts Live UKScottish SummitCall for speakersRajesh Jha retiringCopilot Leadership TeamFrontier SuiteCopilot Wave 3SharePoint at 25Copilot Cowork

In this episode of Copilot Connection, Zoe and Kevin are joined by Diana Wolfe, Head of Research & Strategy at Kyndryl, to explore one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today: the widening gap between AI ambition and AI implementation. Together, they unpack why so many companies struggle to realise value from AI investments, what human‑centred change looks like in an era of agentic AI, and how trust, psychological safety, and redesigned roles shape successful adoption. The conversation covers everything from workflow automation myths and cognitive overload to organisational silos, identity shifts, and the realities of embedding AI into everyday work. Expect thoughtful insights, a few laughs (including designer chickens and the underpants gnomes), and practical guidance on how individuals, leaders, and change practitioners can navigate the next phase of AI‑driven transformation. Tune in to learn why the future of AI isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, systems, and redefining what meaningful work looks like. Takeaways

Send us a text In this episode of The Copilot Connection, hosts Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell are joined by Tricia Sinclair (Microsoft MVP and Avanade’s Global Lead for Contact Center & Customer Service) to explore the evolving role of AI in customer service and contact centres. They discuss how new Copilot AI agents like Case Management Agents and Intent Agents can automate processes such as email triage and understanding customer inquiries, and why many organizations are piloting these tools internally before rolling them out to customers. The conversation dives into adoption challenges – from ensuring quality data and training models to navigating consumption-based costs – and highlights governance solutions like the new Agent Hub for monitoring and controlling AI deployments. Tricia also shares insights on integrating these Copilot capabilities across the broader Microsoft ecosystem (with hints at what’s coming next) and emphasizes the bigger picture: using AI to augment, not replace human agents. The episode wraps up with a thoughtful discussion on the ethical and workforce implications of AI in contact centres, including the importance of maintaining human empathy, addressing potential biases, and keeping customer trust front and centre. Key topics covered: Case Management & Intent AgentsInternal vs. External DeploymentAdoption Challenges & CostsAgent Hub & GovernanceIntegration with Microsoft PlatformsAI’s Impact & Ethicsp.s. decided to try Researcher agent looking at previous summaries to generate this summary. Let us know what you think!

Send us a text This week, Kevin McDonnell and Garry Trinder explore the world of coding agents and how they could change software development. They run through what coding agents are along with the importance of context, memory, and specifications in using AI tools effectively. Also, they think about how you need to change habits and also touch on the challenges faced by junior developers in adapting to AI technologies, the role of personality in AI agents, and the future of work with AI. This isn't just the joy of agents though, this is about the need for security and ethical considerations when integrating AI into development processes, while also encouraging developers to embrace the potential of AI to enhance productivity and creativity. Takeaways: Links: Github Copilot CLI - https://github.com/features/copilot/cli/ Claude Code - https://claude.com/product/claude-code Patrick Rogers power of Coding Agents - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-rodgers-b6a05610_i-love-to-write-code-ive-been-a-programmer-activity-7422672723191058432--Ob_ Shipping at Inference Speed - https://steipete.me/posts/2025/shipping-at-inference-speed Claude Skills - https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12512176-what-are-skills Anthropic Skills Repo - https://github.com/anthropics/skills/tree/main/skills/slack-gif-creator Open Code - https://opencode.ai/ Moltbot Soul - https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/main/docs/reference/templates/SOUL.md Moltbot - https://moltbot.you/ Moltbook - the first agent social network? - https://www.moltbook.com/ https://www.moltbook.com/post/ef3ea419-6c29-4046-9946-d636efe972ea Be careful with Moltbot/Clawdbot: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/elishlomo_security-activity-7421867291459391490-a0B1/ https://x.com/theonejvo/status/2015401219746128322 https://x.com/borjitaea/status/2015745063909839091?s=46

Send us a text Happy new year to you all! In this episode, Zoe and Kevin take a short look at what happened with Copilot and with themselves in 2025, a short view on what they think and hope will happen with Copilot and AI in 2026 but focus most of the time on digging into the latest Microsoft Future of Work report that their science team has been making for the last 5 years. They explore themes such as AI judgment, collaborative AI, and the implications of inequality in the workplace amongst other things. Takeaways Key links Future of work report Tailwind news Salesforce refocussing roles Jamie Teevan's keynote at ESPC

Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, Kevin McDonnell and Garry Trinder discuss the latest developments from the Ignite Conference. They delve into the renaming of Azure AI Foundry to Microsoft Foundry, the new features of the Foundry portal, and the integration of Claude models. The conversation also covers the importance of experimentation with language models, updates on the Teams SDK, and the nuances of the Agent 365 SDK. In this conversation, Garry and Kevin delve into the latest advancements in Microsoft 365, focusing on Agent 365, MCP servers, and the integration of low-code solutions. They discuss the potential of natural language processing in enhancing user interactions, the significance of declarative agents, and the importance of responsible AI practices, particularly in the context of red teaming. They may also chuckle at renames more than they should... Takeaways Links Ignite Book of News Azure AI Foundry is now Microsoft Foundry Deploy and use Claude models in Microsoft Foundry - Microsoft Foundry | Microsoft Learn Teams AI Library is now Microsoft Teams SDK Microsoft Graph is Work IQ.... Agent 365 SDK MCP Management Server Kevin's example of MCP in Copilot Studio Type spec GA Connected agents Red Teaming agent Copilot APIs

Send us a text After last week's Ignite conference in San Francisco, Zoe and Kevin run through the key updates around the different areas of Copilot, covering topics like: - Microsoft Agent 365 - Work IQ - Microsoft 365 Copilot updates - Thoughts on the location and keynote Plus we highlight a few of the upcoming ESPC sessions to keep an eye out for. Ignite Book of News 2025 Microsoft Agent 365 Work IQ and other Microsoft 365 Copilot updates Agent Mode in Office

Send us a text With Ignite just a week away, Zoe and Kevin got together to pick out some interesting sessions as well as several chats about what the key themes coming across are. Naturally, Copilot and agents were our main focus but there were also a couple of other areas that caught our eye. See the sessions at https://ignite.microsoft.com. Sessions mentioned (or that we ran out of time to mention): - BRK402 Our Agentic Era: Building Accessible and Responsible AI for Everyone Low code - BRK1742 Advanced Agent Development with Copilot Studio - BRK 314 -Building agents with Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry Pro code - lots about scaling - BRK1706 - Innovation Session: Your AI Apps and Agent Factory - BRK189 AI agents in Azure AI Foundry, ship fast, scale fearlessly - BRK411 Beyond Models: What No One's Telling you about Scaling Agents Securing and managing agents - BRK306 Innovation Session: Latest AI agent innovation in security, control and productivity - BRK265 Secure access for AI agents with Microsoft Entra In-person - THR821 Copilot for Physical AI - THR763 Copilot & agent intelligence: Reporting for frontier firms - THR759 Copilot Trust & Safety: Controls to manage AI risk One for fun - BRK 432 Scott & Mark learn to connect the dots Not mentioned but still interesting - BRK292 Fireside chat: How customers are unlocking value & growth with Copilot - BRK319 Build Agents for Copilot with the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit - BRK167 Maintain regulatory compliance with the Microsoft Sovereign Cloud - BRK288 SharePoint: The Knowledge Platform for Copilot and Agents - BRK281 Unlocking the all-in-one AI Advantage of Microsoft 365 Copilot

Send us a text It has been a little while since the last episode with Zoe and Kevin so they share some of their own news on why things have been a little quieter over the summer and then discuss the latest updates and news from Microsoft 365 Copilot. We recap recent events, including the Collab Summit North America, Experts Live UK conference, and share our upcoming events. On the news side we delve into significant announcements from lasast couple of months, including the introduction of the Knowledge Agent to "Frontier Firms", licensing changes, and the implications of GPT-5. Plus, Zoe pulls off some awesome dance moves without even realising it. AI powered Takeaways Useful links Agents Introducing Knowledge Agent in SharePoint | Microsoft Community Hubhttps://demos.microsoft.com/microsoft/play/5140/knowledge-agents#/0/0Microsoft 365 Copilot: Enabling human-agent teams | Microsoft 365 BlogMoving sales, service, and finance to the Frontier with Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 BlogLicensing https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/billing-licensingGPT 5 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/Copilot Chat in Office Apps https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/copilot-chat-comes-to-the-microsoft-365-apps/4453349Viva Engage in Copilot Viva Engage Public Content is Now Available in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Community HubCopilot Mode in Edge https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2025/08/07/release-notes-august-7-2025/Deal with US Government Accelerating AI adoption for the US government - The Official Microsoft BlogCopilot Memory https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-copilot-memory-a-more-productive-and-personalized-ai-

Send us a text Kevin McDonnell and Garry Trinder delve into the world of Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its implications for developers. We start with a starter overview of functionality of MCP and why it is important. However, we wanted to get beyond that initial view that is covered elsewhere and look at some of the challenges associated with using MCP and broader considerations that you need to be looking at. The conversation covers the importance of optimizing documentation for language models, governance in MCP usage, and strategies for getting started with MCP and then scaling. Takeaways Useful links Introduction - Model Context Protocol Getting started with Local MCP Servers on Claude Desktop | Anthropic Help Center and For Claude Desktop Users – Model Context Protocol （MCP） Use MCP servers in VS Code Community built Graph MCP Server - GitHub - merill/lokka: MCP (Model Context Protocol) for Microsoft 365. Azure AI Search: Full text search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn Vector search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn Hybrid search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn MCP for beginners course - GitHub - microsoft/mcp-for-beginners MCP Dev Days 29th/30th July (and available on demand after) - MCP Dev Days | Microsoft Reactor Microsoft MCP Lab - GitHub - microsoft/mcsmcp: Lab for creating an MCP Server and using it in Microsoft Copilot Studio. Microsoft's MCP Server collection - GitHub - microsoft/mcp: Catalog of official Microsoft MCP (Model Context Protocol) server implementations for AI-powered data access and tool integration CLI for m365 MCP server - GitHub - pnp/cli-microsoft365-mcp-server: Manage Microsoft 365 using MCP server GitHub - dotnet/dev-proxy: Simulate API failures, throttling, and chaos — all from your command line.

Send us a text Welcome to a brand new way of hearing about the latest Copilot extensibility news! In this episode of the Copilot Connection, Kevin swaps out Zoe for Garry Trinder in the first of a spin-off of episodes where we dig deeper into the extensibility side of Copilot. In this first episode, we go into an overview of the options that you have for extending Copilot. We talk cover why you would need to extend Copilot, the different ways you can do that (whether by end user, maker or specialist) and touch a little on how you can actually get started with doing it. Is there a specific topic that you'd like to see us cover? Let us know! Takeaways Related links Copilot extensibility learning pathsCopilot campCommunity samplesPro dev community samples

Send us a text With the post Build lull in Microsoft news, Zoe and Kevin decided to take a look at some of the upcoming conferences and recommend a few sessions that stood out in the Copilot and agents space. Firstly though, we couldn't resist talking a bit about the collapse of Builder.ai and the re-org of some of the Engineering management teams at Microsoft. We also covered our next Copilot Fireside Chat where Daniel Laskewitz will be joining us to answer your questions on Copilot Studio, MCP and whatever else takes your fancy. News: Microsoft-backed AI startup chatbots revealed to be human employees | MashableMicrosoft’s LinkedIn chief is now running Office as part of an AI reorg | The VergeConferences covered: European Power Platform Conference | Austria | Jun 16-19, 2025Commsverse 2025 - The Microsoft Teams ConferenceTech Con 365 SeattleCollab Summit North AmericaESPC25 | Conference | Ireland | Dec 1-4, 2025Other ones we mentioned: Collab Days NetherlandsCollabDays Hamburg 2025CollabDays Finland 2025Experts Live UK 2025CollabDays Bletchley Park 2025South Coast SummitCheck out other conferences at Community Days. Takeaways

Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, hosts Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest updates and insights from the Microsoft Copilot ecosystem from Build as well as a slight detour to the Chelsea Flower Show. We cover topics like M365 Copilot tuning, notebooks, researcher and analyst agents, and SRE agents. We also explore the implications of AI Foundry and the natural language web, while wrapping up with a look at upcoming events and the importance of community engagement. Takeaways Links Avanade Intelligent Garden Book of News - https://news.microsoft.com/build-2025-book-of-news/ Copilot Tuning Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs Announcing Microsoft Entra Agent ID: Secure and manage your AI agents | Microsoft Community Hub microsoft/AI-Red-Teaming-Playground-Labs: AI Red Teaming playground labs to run AI Red Teaming trainings including infrastructure. NL Web Introducing NLWeb: Bringing conversational interfaces directly to the web - Source and Debugging GenAI with CAPs + NLWeb + OpenTelemetry: A Real-Time Visibility Unlock | LinkedIn Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs Reddit post on SRE agent being used in the dotnet repo My new hobby: watching AI slowly drive Microsoft employees insane : r/ExperiencedDevs Power Apps Studio with Agent Feed Reimagining human-agent collaboration for a new era of app development with Microsoft Power Apps - Microsoft Power Platform Blog Walkthrough of agent feed in Power Apps - users and ma

Send us a text News, news, news - we have lots of new news! Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest announcements from Microsoft about Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release. We delve into the significance of the Work Trend Index, the new user interface and search experience, and the introduction of memory and notebooks features. Then we dig into the management and reporting of agents, the concept of the human-agent ratio (including some extreme reactions to some new phrases from Microsoft...) and the importance of leadership in leveraging AI capabilities. Finally, we cover some of the magical events coming up. Takeaways Sound Bites

Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, Zoe and Kevin are joined by Gary Raife to discuss the transformative potential of AI and Microsoft Copilot in the healthcare sector. We explore the challenges of interoperability, the role of AI in enhancing patient care, and the exciting developments of Dragon Copilot. The conversation also touches on the integration of personal health data, the importance of trust and transparency in AI applications, and the future of healthcare driven by data and technology. Takeaways Key links Gary's blogNews Introducing Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 BlogYour AI Companion - The Official Microsoft BlogNew capabilities in Azure AI Foundry to build advanced agentic applications | Microsoft Azure BlogInterpreter in Microsoft Teams meetings - Microsoft SupportKevin's view of Interpreter AgentCopilot Studio Toolkit updates announcedmicrosoft/Power-CAT-Copilot-Studio-KitIntroduction - Model Context ProtocolAnnouncing the Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A) - Google Developers BlogHealthcare related Meet Microsoft Dragon Copilot: Your new AI assistant for clinical workflow - Microsoft Industry BlogsMicrosoft Cloud for Healthcare | Microsoft

Send us a text How responsible are you with AI? Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell are joined this week by Chris Huntingford (Director of AI at ANS among many other things!), focusing on responsible AI practices, data management, and the socio-economic impacts of technology. We covered the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical practices in AI implementation. The discussion also touches on the cultural shifts required for successful AI adoption, the challenges of governance in AI systems, and the future of AI agents. We also had an amazing announcement for the Copilot Fireside Chat that you can hear at the end! Or get a sneak peak on the Fireside Chat site. Key takeaways:

Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, Kevin goes solo and dives deep into the world of Microsoft Copilot, exploring the intricacies of prompt engineering and the practical applications of prompts in enhancing productivity. He discusses various techniques for effective prompting, the significance of community contributions, and how to utilize the Copilot prompt gallery to streamline workflows. The conversation emphasizes the evolving nature of AI and the need for users to adapt and refine their approaches to maximize the benefits of generative AI tools. Takeaways Useful links News: OWASP agentic threats https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jsotiropoulos_aisecurity-agenticai-owasp-activity-7297385436925095937-vQmg Beginner guide for agents https://www.linkedin.com/posts/donasarkar_happy-valentines-day-friends-as-a-activity-7296237085194084352-db7o New AI models include a gaming model https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-reveals-new-gaming-focused-generative-ai-model-muse-that-could-revive-classic-games/ Fabian Williams bring us some agentic magic with CAPs https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fabiangwilliams_autonomous-multi-agent-group-chat-working-activity-7297051837969358848-R4zG Prompts: Crafting effective prompts https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/getting-the-most-from-the-copilot-prompt-gallery/4383106 Prompt Engineering Guide | Prompt Engineering Guide Best practices for prompt engineering with the OpenAI API | OpenAI Help Center Stefan Bisser’s tool to write prompts https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stephan-bisser_agent-instructor-visual-studio-marketplace-activity-7298292501763780610-OAYW Prompts of the week pnp/copilot-prompts: Examples of p

Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest roadmap items for Microsoft 365 Copilot, highlighting Teams, Microsoft 365 apps, Extensibility, SharePoint, Admin and Purview. Hear about the latest batches coming in February and March and what it could mean to you. Takeaways Key links Roadmap - Teams Roadmap - M365 Apps Roadmap - Extensibility Roadmap - SharePoint and Admin Roadmap - Purview

Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, hosts Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell discuss the evolution of Microsoft's Copilot ecosystem, including the recent announcement of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. They explore the implications of AI agents in business, insights from the Microsoft Research Future of Work report, and the importance of democratizing access to AI technologies. Finally, we talk about our exciting guest for the next Copilot Fireside Chat and her new team. Takeaways Powered by Riverside AI Mentioned links Copilot Chat https://aka.ms/copilotchathttp://aka.ms/mcscopilotchatDaniel Rohregger's post of different costs https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drohregger_what-does-the-new-payg-for-agents-in-copilot-activity-7285909965200904192-Djls?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Future of Work report - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/microsoft-new-future-of-work-report-2024 Debates with Saleforce Full GenAI panic at Salesforce? | LinkedIn Clippy 2.0 is better than Agentforce 2.0? Dona's call to action - Post | Feed | LinkedIn Sign up for Copilot Fireside Chat - Copilot Fireside Chat