Key Highlights:

• Microsoft is testing an OpenClaw-like agent designed for Microsoft 365 Copilot users in enterprises.
• The agent could run continuously and complete multi-step workflows over time.
• Existing Copilot Tasks and Copilot Cowork already support automation but remain cloud-based.
• A preview or announcement may arrive at Microsoft Build in June.

Microsoft is reportedly testing an OpenClaw-like AI agent that could expand how Microsoft 365 Copilot performs work tasks. The company confirmed the effort to The Information. The proposed agent would run continuously and execute actions on behalf of users across workflows.

The feature targets enterprise customers and may include stronger security controls than the open-source OpenClaw system it resembles. If released, the tool could mark Microsoft’s next step toward persistent, autonomous workplace AI assistants.

What is Microsoft building and why does it matter?

The new agent is described as an always-working version of Microsoft 365 Copilot. Instead of responding only when prompted, it could monitor tasks and complete multi-step workflows over time.

That shift signals a move from reactive assistants toward proactive digital coworkers. It also aligns with Microsoft’s broader push into agentic AI systems designed to act independently inside productivity environments.

Importantly, the company has not confirmed whether the agent will run locally on user devices. However, the idea mirrors OpenClaw’s ability to execute tasks directly from a user’s computer rather than relying entirely on cloud infrastructure.

How does it compare with Copilot Cowork and Copilot Tasks?

Microsoft has already introduced multiple agent-style tools in recent months. However, each serves a different purpose.

Copilot Cowork, announced earlier this year, can take actions inside Microsoft 365 apps rather than just generating responses. It uses Microsoft’s Work IQ personalization layer to adapt to user behavior across documents, email, and collaboration tools.

Microsoft also integrated Claude from Anthropic as an optional intelligence engine for Cowork. Still, Cowork operates in the cloud instead of running locally.

Meanwhile, Copilot Tasks focuses on structured automation. It can organize email, manage travel planning, and handle appointments. That tool currently targets prosumers and remains in preview.

The proposed OpenClaw-style agent appears different because it may combine persistence, autonomy, and long-running workflows into a single experience.

Could Microsoft shift toward local AI agents?

One open question involves where the new agent will run. OpenClaw’s popularity comes partly from its ability to operate locally on personal hardware. That approach gives users more control but introduces security concerns.

Microsoft appears to be exploring a safer enterprise alternative. The company confirmed that improved security controls will be central to its version.

Interestingly, OpenClaw already works on Windows machines. Yet many users prefer running it on the Mac Mini because of its performance and efficiency. Reports suggest rising demand for the device among OpenClaw users.

A local Copilot agent could therefore help Microsoft strengthen Windows-based automation workflows while reducing reliance on third-party agent tools.

When could Microsoft announce the new Copilot agent?

The company has not revealed a release timeline. However, reports suggest Microsoft may showcase the agent or an upgraded Copilot capability at Microsoft Build in June.

That timing fits Microsoft’s recent pattern of introducing agentic features in stages. Over the past year, the company has steadily expanded Copilot from a chat assistant into a workflow automation platform.

If confirmed, the OpenClaw-style agent would represent another step toward persistent AI coworkers embedded across productivity systems.

What this signals about the future of Microsoft Copilot

The reported agent suggests Microsoft is moving beyond simple assistant models toward continuous automation systems that operate in the background. That shift reflects a broader industry trend toward long-running AI workflows.

For enterprise users, the change could reduce manual coordination across apps and documents. For Microsoft, it strengthens the role of Copilot as a central operating layer inside workplace software.

As details emerge, the planned agent may become one of the most significant upgrades yet to Microsoft’s evolving Copilot ecosystem. Microsoft’s next announcements could clarify whether this OpenClaw-style approach becomes a standard feature of future Copilot experiences.