Microsoft's latest AI assistant aims to handle complete projects for you.

      Microsoft is broadening its goals for workplace AI with the launch of Copilot Cowork, an autonomous system designed to handle complex tasks comprehensively rather than merely providing suggestions.

      After participating in Microsoft's Frontier preview program for three months, the company reports that more than half of the Fortune 500 companies are already utilizing Copilot Cowork, along with organizations like Accenture, Zurich Insurance, Capital Group, and others. This rollout is noted to be one of the fastest-growing launches in the history of Microsoft's Frontier program, according to the company.

      Copilot Cowork aims to perform the tasks rather than just suggest them

      In contrast to conventional AI assistants that create drafts or respond to inquiries, Copilot Cowork is built to carry out lengthy, multi-step workflows autonomously. Microsoft indicates that customers have already employed the system to analyze thousands of files across different product versions, streamline spreadsheet-heavy workflows, create dependency charts, and discover stalled sales opportunities. The company credits this capability to a combination of cloud-based processing, enterprise security protocols, and a feature they call Work IQ, which is a context engine that enables the AI to access information from existing business tools and systems.

      Microsoft has announced that Copilot Cowork is now generally available! Throughout the recent months of the Frontier preview, we have observed users employing Cowork for a variety of tasks. We have also closely considered your feedback, and with this general availability, we are introducing more enhancements and new features across… pic.twitter.com/D1hRaK33Lj— Charles Lamanna (@clamanna) June 16, 2026

      Microsoft is emphasizing adaptability as well. Copilot Cowork can utilize various AI models based on the specific task, avoiding the limitation of confining customers to a single model. At launch, the service operates on Anthropic’s Opus 4.8 and Sonnet 4.6 models; Frontier customers will also have access to GPT-5.5. A new proprietary model, Cowork 1, is expected to be released in the upcoming weeks.

      Microsoft’s new AI agent features a different pricing model

      Copilot Cowork requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription, with usage billed separately on a consumption basis. Instead of a flat fee, organizations are charged according to the resources needed for each task, which includes model usage, context retrieval, tool calls, and runtime. To assist businesses in estimating expenses, Microsoft has grouped tasks into three common categories: light, medium, and heavy. These range from simple requests that involve minimal reasoning to extensive jobs that aggregate data from multiple sources and necessitate thorough analysis.

      Microsoft argues that this strategy allows organizations to adjust usage according to their needs rather than paying for unused capacity. They also claim that internal testing indicates Copilot Cowork is approximately 30% to 40% cheaper per prompt compared to competing enterprise AI solutions that utilize Microsoft 365 connectors. With Copilot Cowork now available globally, Microsoft is positioning itself to suggest that the next phase of workplace AI is not just about accelerating content generation but rather about delegating entire projects to an AI agent and having it deliver the completed work.

      Shimul is a contributor at Digital Trends, bringing over five years of experience in the technology sector.

      Online payments are undermining the charm of one of America's premier tourist attractions

      One of the last traditional tourist experiences in America has now entered the cashless era.

      We are all familiar with those heavy, coin-operated binoculars located at scenic viewpoints across America, from the Empire State Building to the Grand Canyon. It turns out they will soon begin accepting tap-to-pay transactions.

      This is welcome news, as it means you won't need to carry a quarter anymore, and paying with your smartphone is undeniably more convenient. However, one might argue that the quarter was part of the experience.

      The FBI covertly constructed an entire fake town to practice cyberattacks

      Concealed within a warehouse in Alabama, the Kinetic Cyber Range replicates real-world digital attacks from beginning to end.

      While Hollywood has fake towns for film production, the FBI has one for cybersecurity training. The agency has unveiled its Kinetic Cyber Range, a 22,000-square-foot replica small town hidden within its Huntsville, Alabama campus. Instead of preparing officers for shootouts or hostage situations, this facility is aimed at simulating realistic cyberattacks against homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, allowing investigators to rehearse their responses in a controlled setting.

      Brazil’s covert World Cup strategy instructed the team on when to disregard data

      The analytics claimed he wasn't exerting himself enough. Video footage indicated he was consistently in the "ideal tactical position."

      Brazil holds more World Cup titles than any other nation, with five wins, but after five consecutive tournaments without adding to that total, the team is heavily relying on data this time around.

      Every player dons a sensor-filled "smart vest" that tracks their position on the field (using GPS), heart rate, and a statistic called "player load," similar to