Microsoft has announced a reimagining of the future of Windows by transforming it into what it describes as the “Agentic OS,” incorporating deep integration of AI agents into the taskbar of Windows 11.
The company aims to create a workspace for artificial intelligence, enabling users to leverage intelligent agents capable of executing complex tasks and managing the device in the background at the push of a button.
AI agents are designed to be smart systems that can perform tasks independently on behalf of the user, rather than merely providing answers. They are characterized by operating in the background, making decisions, and interacting with applications and files, thus automating repetitive and intricate tasks.
Navjot Virk, Vice President of Windows Experiences, stated that the goal is to equip every user with powerful AI capabilities. Both Microsoft’s AI agents and those from external developers can perform operations such as data searching, navigating files, and automating tedious office tasks without direct user intervention.
This move is part of the new “Ask Copilot” feature, which merges local search with Microsoft’s AI assistant capabilities. Users can initiate conversations directly from the taskbar or launch an agent automatically to perform a specific task.
Agent icons display visual notifications regarding the task’s status, such as a yellow warning sign when intervention is needed, or a green mark when the work is complete. Microsoft emphasizes that these features are entirely optional, as users can disable the appearance of agents in the taskbar.
