This month, Microsoft hosted Microsoft Ignite 2025 in San Francisco at the Moscone Centre from 18 to 21 November. More than 200,000 people registered to join online or in person, with over 20,000 attending the in person event in San Francisco. The event showcased the latest in Microsoft technology with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, productivity and the future of work. We have rounded up the key highlights here so you can stay in the know!

What’s New from Ignite 2025?

Work IQ – A Smarter Copilot that Understands You

One of the major announcements at Ignite is Work IQ, a new intelligence layer within Microsoft 365 Copilot. Work IQ brings together three important elements:

• The work graph that includes documents, emails, meetings and chats
• The user’s preferences and how they work
• The capability to infer context and anticipate needs

By combining these, the system gets better at understanding your role, your organisation and the way you work, enabling more relevant support and guidance throughout the day.

New AI Agents for Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Ignite also revealed dedicated AI agents built directly into Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These new agents can:

• Ask clarifying questions to get the task right
• Pull data and context from across Microsoft 365
• Suggest structure, layout and improvements
• Create drafts, visual elements and reports

For example, an agent in Word might build a proposal based on meeting notes, while an Excel agent could analyse data and generate charts. This represents a shift towards true co-creation between humans and AI.

Agent 365 – Governance for the Agent Era

As organisations adopt more AI agents, Microsoft announced Agent 365, a governance and management framework designed to bring agents under control. It allows IT teams to:

• Register and oversee all AI agents
• Manage permissions and ensure security
• Monitor performance and usage in real time
• Ensure compliance and responsible deployment

With artificial intelligence becoming more autonomous, Agent 365 provides the structure and safeguards required for scaling agents across the business.

Windows Evolves for Agent-Centric Work

• An “Ask Copilot” experience built into the taskbar
• Voice-driven interactions with agents
• Agents accessible directly from the operating system rather than just apps
• Deeper integration between Windows and Microsoft 365

These features turn Windows into a platform from which users can engage with agents naturally across applications, making productivity more fluid and integrated.

What This Means for the Future of Work

All of the above announcements from Ignite revolve around AI and signal a transformation in how people will use Microsoft 365 in the next few years. Work will become less about switching between applications and more about collaborating with intelligent agents that support creation, analysis and automation. Practically, this means:

• Faster generation of content: documents, spreadsheets and presentations built collaboratively with AI
• More consistent workflows: agents understanding and applying organisational best practice
• Smarter decision making: AI that identifies insights before you ask
• Less busy‐work: repetitive tasks handled automatically in the background

These developments point to a workplace where AI is embedded in every role, from administrative functions to strategic planning.

Looking Ahead

Microsoft has made clear that Ignite 2025 marks the beginning of the next chapter for Copilot, agents and the modern workplace. Many of these features are currently available via previews and early access programmes, with broader availability to follow.

The future of Microsoft 365 is around intelligent, secure and collaborative AI working alongside people. As organisations move into this new era, the tools unveiled at Ignite 2025 provide the platform for transformation.

Sources

• Microsoft 365 Blog – Microsoft Ignite 2025: Copilot and agents built to power the Frontier Firm – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/11/18/microsoft-ignite-2025-copilot-and-agents-built-to-power-the-frontier-firm/
• Microsoft Blog – Microsoft Agent 365: The control plane for AI agents – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/11/18/microsoft-agent-365-the-control-plane-for-ai-agents/
• Times of India – Microsoft 365 Copilot gets Word, Excel and PowerPoint agents – https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/microsoft-ignite-2025-microsoft-365-copilot-gets-word-excel-and-powerpoint-agents/articleshow/125438656.cms
• Atos – Microsoft Ignite 2025 Facts & Figures – https://atos.net/en/events/microsoft-ignite-2025
• Microsoft Ignite official site – https://ignite.microsoft.com/