Microsoft CTO Reports Doubling of AI Agent Users Over the Past Year – Business Insider
At the Microsoft Build Developer Conference of 2025, Kevin Scott, the company’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of AI, took the stage with an electrifying revelation: the usage of AI agents has skyrocketed over the past year, more than doubling since the previous Build. Now, don’t brush this off as just another corporate buzzword; this is what we call “agentic AI.” Imagine intelligent agents you can delegate tasks to, like having a digital assistant who not only fetches your coffee but might also craft your presentation and optimize your workflow while you’re busy napping on the couch. That’s what Microsoft is cooking up, and it’s something worth getting excited about.
AI agents, as defined by Scott, are akin to digital henchmen. They perform tasks on your behalf, doing so autonomously or semi-autonomously. The catch? We’re still in the toddler phase of this tech revolution; these agents might not yet possess the wisdom of a seasoned guru, but they’re growing rapidly. One day soon, we might find them scaling the heights of productivity while saving us from the drudgery of mundane chores.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella chimed in, unveiling his grand vision for an “agentic web,” a sprawling ecosystem where AI agents glide seamlessly across various platforms and services, like a futuristic highway stretching across town—only this highway is filled with AI that transforms your every digital interaction. He painted a picture of AI not just being an add-on but the very backbone of existing products—the stuff that fills our computers and devices with magic. Think Windows, Microsoft 365, Teams, and Azure—all infused with these agents to reimagine how we work.
The real-world impact of AI agents is already palpable. Companies such as Dow and JM Family are harnessing these agents to boost operational prowess. Imagine a world where your invoices are audited by tireless agents, allowing you to skip the mundane and embrace creativity and innovation. Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry is enabling the construction of intricate multi-agent systems, where these specialized agents join forces to tackle complex processes, all under the watchful eye of humans to ensure we remain responsible stewards of this tech revolution.
Here’s a nugget of truth: 46% of business leaders admit they’re deploying AI agents for fully automating workflows—especially in areas like customer service, marketing, and product development. This isn’t just a wild idea; it’s happening now. But here’s the kicker—82% of these leaders plan to use AI agents to expand workforce capacity, essentially keeping the headcount the same while maximizing productivity with digital labor. Reasonable? Absolutely.
Isn’t it fascinating? By early 2024, it was already reported that 75% of Microsoft’s own employees were tapping into AI tools to assist in their daily grind, often relying on their own chosen AI hardware. The market for these agents is predicted to balloon from a jaw-dropping $7.38 billion to an eye-popping $47.1 billion over just a few short years, cruising along with a compound annual growth rate of 44.8%. As for customer service, a whopping 54% of global companies have jumped on the conversational AI bandwagon, expecting that AI will juggle 80% of all customer interactions by the year 2030.
What’s on the horizon? Well, 78% of business leaders are eyeing the possibility of hiring experts specifically for AI roles, while 42% have plans to construct multi-agent systems in the near future. The writing is on the digital wall: AI agents are not just a buzzword; they’re a significant part of our business fabric.
Microsoft has its eyes set on making these agents a core element of our digital lives, envisioning them as not just automators of mundane tasks but enhancers of our creativity and decision-making powers. We might soon be collaborating with our AI agents like we do with our colleagues—brainstorming, innovating, and solving problems together. That’s a future worth dreaming about, right?
Imagine it—an “agentic web” that mirrors the open standards that breathed life into the early internet. Microsoft is on the frontline, setting up structures and frameworks that will make this reality feasible. As AI agents continue to mature and blend into the ecosystem, we are likely to witness profound transformations in industries ranging from software engineering—where AI is already drafting your code—to customer service and supply chain management, all leading to greater efficiency, reduced costs, and new business prospects.
The acceleration in the adoption and development of AI agents points to 2025 being a watershed moment for AI technology. Both companies and individuals are gradually weaving these intelligent agents into the very fabric of their day-to-day workflows. They’re reshaping how we work and live—thriving not just on productivity but also on creativity and collaboration.
Curious about the fast-paced world of AI agents and their impending impact on business and technology? Microsoft’s Build Conference keynotes and accompanying resources are treasure troves of information, offering an in-depth glimpse into the promising future of AI-powered work. Industry reports and user statistics reveal an exhilarating landscape where AI agents are not simply aiding but redefining productivity and innovation across the globe.
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