Microsoft Integrates AI-Driven Deep Research Tools Into Copilot

Microsoft is rolling out a “deep research” AI tool within Microsoft 365 Copilot, its AI-powered chatbot app. Recently, several deep research agents have emerged across AI chatbots, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and xAI’s Grok. These tools rely on reasoning AI models, which can analyze problems and verify facts—key abilities for conducting in-depth research.

Microsoft Introduces Researcher and Analyst for Advanced AI-Powered Research

Microsoft’s versions, Researcher and Analyst, bring unique capabilities. Researcher integrates OpenAI’s deep research model—also used in ChatGPT’s research tool—with “advanced orchestration” and “deep search” features. According to Microsoft, it can handle tasks like developing go-to-market strategies and generating quarterly client reports.

Analyst, built on OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model, is designed for advanced data analysis, Microsoft said. It works iteratively, refining its approach step by step to deliver precise answers. Analyst can also execute Python code to handle complex data queries and provides transparency by making its process visible for review.

Microsoft’s Deep Research Tools Stand Out with Access to Internal and Web Data

What sets Microsoft’s deep research tools apart is their ability to access both internal work data and the web. For instance, Researcher can pull information from third-party data connectors, integrating insights from AI agents, tools, and apps like Confluence, ServiceNow, and Salesforce.

However, the real challenge remains preventing hallucinations or misinformation. Models like o3-mini and deep research are not infallible—they can misattribute sources, draw incorrect conclusions, or rely on unreliable public data.

Microsoft is introducing the Frontier program, allowing Microsoft 365 Copilot users to access Researcher and Analyst. Participants in Frontier, which will receive early access to experimental Copilot features, will be able to use Researcher and Analyst starting in April.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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