Microsoft is enhancing its 365 Copilot AI chatbot with new deep research tools, Researcher and Analyst, designed to improve problem-solving and fact-checking. Researcher, powered by OpenAI’s deep research model, combines advanced orchestration with deep search capabilities. It can perform tasks like creating go-to-market strategies and quarterly reports, leveraging both the Internet and internal company data from apps like Confluence, ServiceNow, and Salesforce.
Analyst, built on OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model, specializes in advanced data analysis. It takes an iterative approach to problem-solving, refining responses, and providing detailed answers. Analysts can also run Python for complex data queries, offering transparency by exposing its decision-making process for user inspection.
These tools set Microsoft apart by integrating work-specific data sources alongside web information. However, challenges remain, as AI models like o3-mini and deep research sometimes misattribute sources, draw incorrect conclusions, or rely on unreliable public data. Microsoft aims to mitigate these issues but acknowledges that AI-generated insights are not flawless.
To introduce these features, Microsoft is launching a new Frontier program, allowing select 365 Copilot customers early access to Researcher and Analyst. This program will serve as a testing ground for experimental Copilot features, with the new tools rolling out to participants starting in April.
