Microsoft 365 Copilot now includes a growing set of task-focused agents, specialized helpers for research, data analysis, surveys, and more. Agents appear in the Copilot app (in Teams or the web) and can be pinned under Agents. Availability varies; several agents require the Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on license.
What the agents can do
Analyst (M365 Copilot license required): Attach work files (Excel, CSV) and ask plain-language questions. Summarize data, create charts, and view the code used for analysis.
Researcher (M365 Copilot license required): Pulls from your Microsoft 365 files and trusted web sources, then drafts reports with citations.
Surveys Agent (M365 Copilot license required): Creates, distributes, and analyzes surveys; builds on Microsoft Forms for delivery.
Prompt Coach: Helps you write stronger prompts for clearer, more accurate results.
Idea Coach: Supports brainstorming and project planning.
Why this matters at Iowa
These agents move Copilot beyond a single chat window toward tools aligned to University workflows.
Academic advising staff might use Analyst to explore enrollment trends and highlight outliers.
Research teams could use Researcher to draft a brief literature summary with source citations.
Anyone can use Prompt Coach to improve the quality and clarity of requests to AI.
A human stays in the loop. Review outputs for accuracy, data sensitivity, and alignment with University policy before sharing.
Getting started
Open Copilot on a browser or Teams and sign in with your @uiowa.edu account to get started.
Select Agents.
Choose the agent that matches your goal. For example, Researcher, Analyst, or Prompt Coach.
Try prompts such as:
Analyst: “Attach the departmental budget file and show year-over-year cost changes by category. Create a bar chart highlighting anomalies.”
Researcher: “Summarize how peer universities are integrating AI into undergraduate curricula, including citations.”
Explore results, then refine or expand your request. Agents handle the heavy lifting while you guide direction and verify output.
See the AI Tools page for Microsoft 365 Copilot availability and other supported options. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to the AI at Iowa newsletter.