Editorial illustration for Microsoft previews AI‑powered Copilot Tasks to handle busywork in background
Microsoft Copilot Tasks: AI Automates Workplace Busywork
Microsoft previews AI‑powered Copilot Tasks to handle busywork in background
Why does this matter? Most people spend hours wrestling with repetitive steps—copy‑pasting tables, sorting emails, flagging items—while their laptops grind away. While the tech is impressive, the real question is whether the workload can be shifted off the local machine entirely.
Here’s the thing: Microsoft has been nudging its Copilot brand toward more autonomous assistance, and the latest preview hints at a deeper division of labor between your device and the cloud. The company says the new capability will run on its own cloud‑based computer, meaning the heavy lifting happens somewhere else, not on your screen. If it truly spans browsers and apps, the potential to free up bandwidth and battery life could be significant for power users and remote workers alike.
But the promise hinges on how seamlessly the background processes integrate with everyday tools. Below, Microsoft lays out the details of the feature it’s calling “Copilot Tasks.”
Microsoft is previewing a new AI-powered "Copilot Tasks" designed to take care of busywork for you in the background, the company announced on Thursday. The feature takes the load off your device using its own cloud-based computer, allowing it to work across a browser and apps to handle a variety of jobs ranging from scheduling appointments to generating study plans. Microsoft's "Copilot Tasks" AI uses its own computer to get things done The AI assistant can do things like turn emails, attachments, and images from your inbox into a slide deck, or offer rundowns on nearby apartment listings.
Will it really free up our time? Microsoft says its previewed Copilot Tasks runs on a separate cloud‑based computer, so the local device isn’t burdened. The assistant claims to operate across browsers and apps, turning emails into actions, attaching files, scheduling appointments, even drafting study plans.
Yet the announcement offers few details about how the background processes are prioritized or how users will control them. Because the feature relies on cloud resources, questions about data handling and latency remain unanswered. Moreover, the preview status means performance and reliability are still being measured.
If the AI can reliably shift busywork off‑device, it could change how everyday tasks are managed, but the extent of its integration with existing Microsoft services is unclear. Users will need to see concrete results before judging its practical value. As it stands, Copilot Tasks is an intriguing addition, though its real impact on productivity is yet to be demonstrated.
Further Reading
- Microsoft just launched a to-do list tool that completes itself using AI - Windows Central
- What's coming to Microsoft Copilot in 2026: Features, agents and a new era of AI productivity - Tecman
- What's New in Microsoft 365 Copilot | January 2026 - Microsoft Tech Community
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Common Questions Answered
How does Microsoft's new Copilot Tasks differ from traditional AI assistants?
Copilot Tasks operates on a separate cloud-based computer, offloading work from the local device and enabling autonomous background processing. The AI assistant can handle complex tasks across browsers and apps, such as scheduling appointments, generating study plans, and turning emails into actionable items.
What types of tasks can Microsoft's Copilot Tasks perform?
Copilot Tasks can manage a variety of background work, including scheduling appointments, drafting study plans, attaching files, and transforming emails into actionable tasks. The AI assistant aims to reduce manual workload by autonomously handling repetitive administrative processes across different applications.
What are the potential limitations of Microsoft's Copilot Tasks preview?
The current preview offers limited details about how background processes will be prioritized and controlled by users. Additionally, since the feature relies on cloud resources, there are potential concerns about data privacy and the extent of the AI's autonomous capabilities.