Microsoft Copilot
Jan 17, 2025 1:25 AM
Enabling agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Graph
Key insights
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat empowers employees across various roles to utilize AI agents, enhancing business processes with the integration of Copilot Studio.
- Agent Consumption: Usage is measured in "messages," with costs calculated based on the total messages used. Options include pay-as-you-go at $0.01/message or pre-paid packs for $200/25,000 messages per month.
- Answer Types: Agents provide two types of responses—Classic Answers, which are static and predefined, costing one message, and Generative Answers, which are dynamic and context-based, costing two messages.
- Tenant Graph Grounding for Messages: This feature enhances agent responses using data from Microsoft Graph. It costs 30 messages per knowledge retrieval but is free for users licensed with Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- Autonomous Actions: These enable agents to automate complex processes, costing 25 messages per action. They transition to a paid preview starting February 1, 2025.
- Cost Calculation Examples: Agent costs vary based on usage frequency and complexity. For example, an agent using classic and generative answers could cost $45/day if consuming 4,500 messages.
- Note that users licensed with Microsoft 365 Copilot can use classic and generative answers at no cost as part of their per user license.
Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Microsoft continues to innovate in the realm of artificial intelligence with the introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. This tool aims to empower employees across various sectors, from customer service to marketing, by integrating agents into everyday business processes. The vision is to transform these processes through AI-driven agents, making them more efficient and effective.
Getting Started with Agent Consumption
Agents are pivotal in transforming business processes via AI. Soon, agents created in Microsoft Copilot Studio will be accessible directly within Copilot Chat. Understanding the cost structure is essential for organizations looking to integrate these agents. Usage is measured in "messages," and the total cost is calculated based on the number of messages used. Organizations can purchase these messages through Microsoft Azure, either as a pay-as-you-go option or through pre-paid message packs. The Microsoft Power Platform admin center helps set up billing and assign message capacity to individual agents.Classic and Generative Answers
Answers are central to how agents interact with users. Microsoft provides two options: classic and generative answers. Classic answers are predefined and manually authored, offering precise responses. They cost one message per response. On the other hand, generative answers are dynamically generated based on context and knowledge sources, providing more flexible interactions. These cost two messages per response. Notably, users licensed with Microsoft 365 Copilot can use both types of answers at no additional cost.Tenant Graph Grounding for Messages
Tenant Graph grounding offers high-quality information retrieval from Microsoft Graph, which includes files stored in SharePoint and external data. This feature costs 30 messages per knowledge retrieval and can be toggled on or off in Copilot Studio. Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license can access this feature without incurring additional costs. The rollout of this feature will occur in phases, beginning in February 2025.Autonomous Actions Enter Paid Preview
Autonomous agents, which automate complex business processes, have garnered significant interest. Starting February 2025, Microsoft will transition these capabilities to a paid preview program. Autonomous actions are orchestrated triggers and workflows visible in the activity map. Each action costs 25 messages, offering organizations a way to streamline operations effectively.Calculating Agent Costs
Agent costs depend on the capabilities utilized. For example, an agent answering customer questions might consume 4,500 messages in a day, costing $45. Another agent using Microsoft Graph data might incur costs of $64 for 6,400 messages. Autonomous agents handling sales orders could cost $232 for 23,200 messages. These examples illustrate the variability in costs based on usage and complexity.
Microsoft provides governance tools within the Power Platform admin center to manage these costs. Admins can monitor usage, assign agents to environments, and allocate message capacity to maintain control over billing. This ensures that organizations can effectively manage their AI-driven processes without unexpected expenses. In conclusion, Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat represents a significant step forward in integrating AI into business processes. By understanding the cost structures and capabilities, organizations can leverage these tools to enhance efficiency and productivity.
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