SAN FRANCISCO: In Microsoft’s view, humans are not the only ones to manage in a workplace. Artificial intelligence needs a manager, too.

The software maker on Tuesday announced Microsoft Agent 365, a program for its customers to track what it expects to be 1.3 billion agents automating office work by 2028. Agents are AI-powered programs that perform tasks on humans’ behalf. Microsoft and other companies are actively marketing agent software. While some customers have successfully deployed these systems for code generation, others have struggled with implementation, fueling concerns about a market bubble.

According to Microsoft, just like IT staff can see who is on a company’s network and manage what resources they can access, its latest software aims to extend similar controls to supervising AI agents. The programme lets IT personnel quarantine rogue agents while equipping authorised ones with a range of productivity tools said Microsoft.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2025