'Just Ask For What You Need:' Mustafa Suleyman Teases Microsoft's Copilot Tasks As AI That Automates Emails, Study Plans And More - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Core Insights - Microsoft is introducing a new AI system called Copilot Tasks, which aims to automate digital tasks and operate in the background using its cloud computing capabilities [1][2]. Group 1: Product Features - Copilot Tasks allows users to describe their needs in natural language and assign both one-time and recurring jobs, with the system executing tasks in the background [3]. - The AI can transform a course syllabus into a structured study plan, monitor apartment listings, surface urgent emails, unsubscribe from promotional messages, and create slide decks from inbox content [4]. - The system will seek user permission before performing significant actions, such as sending messages or making payments [5]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Copilot Tasks is positioned as Microsoft's response to the rise of "agentic AI" tools from competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic, which can perform multi-step tasks and browse the web [6]. - Currently, Copilot Tasks is in a testing phase with a limited group of users, and a public waitlist is available on Microsoft's website [6]. Group 3: Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Microsoft's shares experienced a slight decline of 0.58% in pre-market trading after a modest increase of 0.27% to close at $401.72 [6].