【AI+MSFT】Microsoft teams up with Anthropic to launch "Copilot Cowork" Agent 365＋E7 flagship bundle launching in May $99 upgrade for enterprise AI agent capabilities

Microsoft (US: MSFT) announced on Monday (the 9th) that it will incorporate Anthropic’s AI technology into its Copilot service, launching a new tool called “Copilot Cowork.” This marks a new stage where generative AI moves from general language models to “actually executing tasks,” aiming to capture the rapidly growing AI agent market.

The concept of Copilot Cowork is based on Anthropic’s recently launched and attention-grabbing Claude Cowork tool. This technology can automatically complete complex tasks with limited human supervision, such as building applications, creating spreadsheets, and organizing large amounts of data.

Advantages in Cloud Environment Security Management

Microsoft stated that enterprise customers often have high concerns about data security and control mechanisms when adopting AI agents. Therefore, the company will emphasize its strengths in enterprise cloud environment and security management to attract companies interested in using AI agents but worried about risks.

According to the official Microsoft 365 website, after users describe their desired outcomes, Cowork will first break down their ideas into executable plans and then proceed step by step. Each key step has a checkpoint for confirmation before the system is truly activated, and any stage can be paused.

Microsoft said that Copilot Cowork is still in testing, with a limited release to some early users later this month. The company has not disclosed detailed pricing but mentioned that some features will be included in the $30 per month per user Microsoft 365 Copilot enterprise plan, with additional usage available for purchase.

Low Penetration of AI Features in Office Software

Microsoft also announced that 365 Copilot has entered a new phase, officially upgrading from an AI-assisted tool to an integrated AI agent capability, and launched Agent 365 and E7 plans. Agent 365 will be officially released on May 1st, priced at $15 per user. It allows IT and security managers to observe, manage, govern, and protect the entire enterprise’s AI agents from a single platform, using the same infrastructure, applications, and security protections currently used for employee management.

Microsoft also introduced a new flagship subscription bundle, “Microsoft 365 E7,” which integrates core Office applications like Word and Excel with Copilot AI assistants and management tools into a single plan, priced at $99 per user per month. E7 combines Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Agent 365 into one package, supported by Work IQ, seamlessly integrating with existing customer applications and security products. The plan also includes Microsoft Entra Suite, as well as advanced security features of Defender, Intune, and Purview, providing comprehensive protection for AI agents and employees.

This new bundle is positioned as Microsoft’s latest flagship Office solution in the AI era, aiming to enable more enterprise users to incorporate AI into their daily workflows within the existing Microsoft 365 ecosystem, moving beyond trial or limited use.

Jared Spataro, head of Microsoft’s work applications business, said that in the past, enterprises had to purchase additional licenses and tools beyond their existing subscriptions to adopt AI, which was costly and complicated IT and finance coordination. With E7, Microsoft hopes to turn the question of “whether to adopt AI” into a decision of “whether to upgrade to a more complete flagship plan.”

Currently, over 450 million commercial customers pay for its Office software, but market estimates suggest only about 3% of users are paying for Copilot licenses, indicating that AI feature paid penetration is still in an early stage. Market analysts believe that E7 is an important step for Microsoft to promote AI adoption. As long as companies are willing to upgrade to the flagship plan, employees can directly use AI features like Copilot within the familiar Office interface, reducing learning and implementation barriers.