Microsoft Copilot Transforms into No-Code Development Platform with New App Builder and Collaboration Features

Microsoft's Copilot can now build apps and automate your job -- here's how it works

Microsoft is launching a significant expansion of its Copilot AI assistant on Tuesday, introducing tools that let employees build applications, automate workflows, and create specialized AI agents using only conversational prompts -- no coding required. The new capabilities, called App Builder and Workflows, mark Microsoft's most aggressive attempt yet to merge artificial intelligence with software development, enabling the estimated 100 million Microsoft 365 users to create business tools as easily as they currently draft emails or build spreadsheets. "We really believe that a main part of an AI-forward employee, not just developers, will be to create agents, workflows and apps," Charles Lamanna, Microsoft's president of business and industry Copilot, said in an interview with VentureBeat. "Part of the job will be to build and create these things." The announcement comes as Microsoft deepens its commitment to AI-powered productivity tools while navigating a complex partnership with OpenAI, the creator of the underlying technology that powers Copilot. On the same day, OpenAI completed its restructuring into a for-profit entity, with Microsoft receiving a 27% ownership stake valued at approximately $135 billion. How natural language prompts now create fully functional business applications The new features transform Copilot from a conversational assistant into what Microsoft envisions as a comprehensive development environment accessible to non-technical workers. Users can now describe an application they need -- such as a project tracker with dashboards and task assignments -- and Copilot will generate a working app complete with a database backend, user interface, and security controls. "If you're right inside of Copilot, you can now have a conversation to build an application complete with a backing database and a security model," Lamanna explained. "You can make edit requests and update requests and change requests so you can tune the app to get exactly the experience you want before you share it with other users." The App Builder stores data in Microsoft Lists, the company's lightweight database system, and allows users to share finished applications via a simple link -- similar to sharing a document. The Workflows agent, meanwhile, automates routine tasks across Microsoft's ecosystem of products, including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Planner, by converting natural language descriptions into automated processes. A third component, a simplified version of Microsoft's Copilot Studio agent-building platform, lets users create specialized AI assistants tailored to specific tasks or knowledge domains, drawing from SharePoint documents, meeting transcripts, emails, and external systems. All three capabilities are included in the existing $30-per-month Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription at no additional cost -- a pricing decision Lamanna characterized as consistent with Microsoft's historical approach of bundling significant value into its productivity suite. "That's what Microsoft always does. We try to do a huge amount of value at a low price," he said. "If you go look at Office, you think about Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Exchange, all that for like eight bucks a month. That's a pretty good deal." Why Microsoft's nine-year bet on low-code development is finally paying off The new tools represent the culmination of a nine-year effort by Microsoft to democratize software development through its Power Platform -- a collection of low-code and no-code development tools that has grown to 56 million monthly active users, according to figures the company disclosed in recent earnings reports. Lamanna, who has led the Power Platform initiative since its inception, said the integration into Copilot marks a fundamental shift in how these capabilities reach users. Rather than requiring workers to visit a separate website or learn a specialized interface, the development tools now exist within the same conversational window they already use for AI-assisted tasks. "One of the big things that we're excited about is Copilot -- that's a tool for literally every office worker," Lamanna said. "Every office worker, just like they research data, they analyze data, they reason over topics, they also will be creating apps, agents and workflows." The integration offers significant technical advantages, he argued. Because Copilot already indexes a user's Microsoft 365 content -- emails, documents, meetings, and organizational data -- it can incorporate that context into the applications and workflows it builds. If a user asks for "an app for Project Spartan," Copilot can draw from existing communications to understand what that project entails and suggest relevant features. "If you go to those other tools, they have no idea what the heck Project Spartan is," Lamanna said, referencing competing low-code platforms from companies like Google, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. "But if you do it inside of Copilot and inside of the App Builder, it's able to draw from all that information and context." Microsoft claims the apps created through these tools are "full-stack applications" with proper databases secured through the same identity systems used across its enterprise products -- distinguishing them from simpler front-end tools offered by competitors. The company also emphasized that its existing governance, security, and data loss prevention policies automatically apply to apps and workflows created through Copilot. Where professional developers still matter in an AI-powered workplace While Microsoft positions the new capabilities as accessible to all office workers, Lamanna was careful to delineate where professional developers remain essential. His dividing line centers on whether a system interacts with parties outside the organization. "Anything that leaves the boundaries of your company warrants developer involvement," he said. "If you want to build an agent and put it on your website, you should have developers involved. Or if you want to build an automation which interfaces directly with your customers, or an app or a website which interfaces directly with your customers, you want professionals involved." The reasoning is risk-based: external-facing systems carry greater potential for data breaches, security vulnerabilities, or business errors. "You don't want people getting refunds they shouldn't," Lamanna noted. For internal use cases -- approval workflows, project tracking, team dashboards -- Microsoft believes the new tools can handle the majority of needs without IT department involvement. But the company has built "no cliffs," in Lamanna's terminology, allowing users to migrate simple apps to more sophisticated platforms as needs grow. Apps created in the conversational App Builder can be opened in Power Apps, Microsoft's full development environment, where they can be connected to Dataverse, the company's enterprise database, or extended with custom code. Similarly, simple workflows can graduate to the full Power Automate platform, and basic agents can be enhanced in the complete Copilot Studio. "We have this mantra called no cliffs," Lamanna said. "If your app gets too complicated for the App Builder, you can always edit and open it in Power Apps. You can jump over to the richer experience, and if you're really sophisticated, you can even go from those experiences into Azure." This architecture addresses a problem that has plagued previous generations of easy-to-use development tools: users who outgrow the simplified environment often must rebuild from scratch on professional platforms. "People really do not like easy-to-use development tools if I have to throw everything away and start over," Lamanna said. What happens when every employee can build apps without IT approval The democratization of software development raises questions about governance, maintenance, and organizational complexity -- issues Microsoft has worked to address through administrative controls. IT administrators can view all applications, workflows, and agents created within their organization through a centralized inventory in the Microsoft 365 admin center. They can reassign ownership, disable access at the group level, or "promote" particularly useful employee-created apps to officially supported status. "We have a bunch of customers who have this approach where it's like, let 1,000 apps bloom, and then the best ones, I go upgrade and make them IT-governed or central," Lamanna said. The system also includes provisions for when employees leave. Apps and workflows remain accessible for 60 days, during which managers can claim ownership -- similar to how OneDrive files are handled when someone departs. Lamanna argued that most employee-created apps don't warrant significant IT oversight. "It's just not worth inspecting an app that John, Susie, and Bob use to do their job," he said. "It should concern itself with the app that ends up being used by 2,000 people, and that will pop up in that dashboard." Still, the proliferation of employee-created applications could create challenges. Users have expressed frustration with Microsoft's increasing emphasis on AI features across its products, with some giving the Microsoft 365 mobile app one-star ratings after a recent update prioritized Copilot over traditional file access. The tools also arrive as enterprises grapple with "shadow IT" -- unsanctioned software and systems that employees adopt without official approval. While Microsoft's governance controls aim to provide visibility, the ease of creating new applications could accelerate the pace at which these systems multiply. The ambitious plan to turn 500 million workers into software builders Microsoft's ambitions for the technology extend far beyond incremental productivity gains. Lamanna envisions a fundamental transformation of what it means to be an office worker -- one where building software becomes as routine as creating spreadsheets. "Just like how 20 years ago you put on your resume that you could use pivot tables in Excel, people are going to start saying that they can use App Builder and workflow agents, even if they're just in the finance department or the sales department," he said. The numbers he's targeting are staggering. With 56 million people already using Power Platform, Lamanna believes the integration into Copilot could eventually reach 500 million builders. "Early days still, but I think it's certainly encouraging," he said. The features are currently available only to customers in Microsoft's Frontier Program -- an early access initiative for Microsoft 365 Copilot subscribers. The company has not disclosed how many organizations participate in the program or when the tools will reach general availability. The announcement fits within Microsoft's larger strategy of embedding AI capabilities throughout its product portfolio, driven by its partnership with OpenAI. Under the restructured agreement announced Tuesday, Microsoft will have access to OpenAI's technology through 2032, including models that achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) -- though such systems do not yet exist. Microsoft has also begun integrating Copilot into its new companion apps for Windows 11, which provide quick access to contacts, files, and calendar information. The aggressive integration of AI features across Microsoft's ecosystem has drawn mixed reactions. While enterprise customers have shown interest in productivity gains, the rapid pace of change and ubiquity of AI prompts have frustrated some users who prefer traditional workflows. For Microsoft, however, the calculation is clear: if even a fraction of its user base begins creating applications and automations, it would represent a massive expansion of the effective software development workforce -- and further entrench customers in Microsoft's ecosystem. The company is betting that the same natural language interface that made ChatGPT accessible to millions can finally unlock the decades-old promise of empowering everyday workers to build their own tools. The App Builder and Workflows agents are available starting today through the Microsoft 365 Copilot Agent Store for Frontier Program participants. Whether that future arrives depends not just on the technology's capabilities, but on a more fundamental question: Do millions of office workers actually want to become part-time software developers? Microsoft is about to find out if the answer is yes -- or if some jobs are better left to the professionals.

Microsoft's AI Copilot Just Got Smarter : Here's What You Need to Know

What if your computer could truly understand you, anticipate your needs, streamline your tasks, and even collaborate with you in real-time? With its new AI Copilot update, Microsoft has unveiled a vision of computing that feels less like using a machine and more like working alongside a trusted partner. From personalized memory features that adapt to your habits to seamless cross-platform integration that eliminates digital friction, this update doesn't just tweak the way you work, it redefines it. Imagine brainstorming with colleagues while an AI organizes your ideas or effortlessly managing a packed schedule with tools that intuitively align with your preferences. This isn't just an upgrade; it's a paradigm shift in how we interact with technology. In this report, AI Grid explores how Microsoft's Copilot update is poised to transform everything from collaboration to creativity, making your digital life more intuitive, efficient, and even empathetic. You'll discover how features like shared AI chats, real-time voice activation, and integrated health navigation are reshaping the boundaries of what technology can do for you. But beyond the tools themselves, this update raises a deeper question: can AI become not just a tool, but a true companion in our daily lives? As you read on, consider how these innovations might change the way you think about productivity, and what it means to work smarter, not harder. One of the most impactful additions to Copilot is the shared AI chats feature, which enables real-time collaboration with colleagues, friends, or even the AI itself. This functionality is particularly beneficial for brainstorming sessions, problem-solving, or coordinating tasks. For example, you can initiate a group chat to plan a project, where the AI assists by summarizing ideas, organizing tasks, or suggesting actionable solutions. By fostering teamwork in a dynamic and interactive way, shared AI chats make collaboration more efficient and engaging, whether you're working remotely or in person. Copilot's memory capabilities elevate personalization to a new level. By remembering your preferences, goals, and past interactions, the AI can provide tailored support that aligns with your habits. For instance, if you frequently schedule meetings at a specific time or prefer certain document formats, Copilot adapts to these patterns, streamlining your workflow. Additionally, you maintain full control over this feature, with options to manage, update, or delete stored memories. This ensures that your experience remains secure, customized, and aligned with your evolving needs. Find more information on Microsoft Copilot by browsing our extensive range of articles, guides and tutorials. The updated Copilot integrates effortlessly with widely used tools like Outlook, OneDrive, Gmail, and Google Drive. This cross-platform connectivity allows you to access emails, files, and calendars without the need to switch between applications. For example, you can locate a document stored in OneDrive while drafting an email in Gmail, all within the same interface. This unified approach reduces friction and saves you valuable time, allowing a smoother and more efficient workflow across your digital ecosystem. In collaboration with Harvard Health, Microsoft has introduced a health navigation feature to Copilot, providing access to reliable medical information and resources. This tool helps you research symptoms, find healthcare providers, and navigate sensitive health topics with confidence. Whether you're scheduling an appointment or seeking guidance on a medical concern, Copilot ensures that you receive accurate and trustworthy information, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health. The addition of an AI companion, represented by an animated avatar named "Mo," brings a more human touch to your interactions with Copilot. This voice-first feature offers real-time emotional feedback and adaptive expressions, making conversations feel more natural and engaging. For example, if you express frustration while completing a task, the avatar might respond with a calming tone or suggest practical solutions to alleviate your stress. By bridging the gap between functionality and empathy, this innovation enhances the overall user experience. Real Talk Mode transforms Copilot into a conversational partner capable of providing insightful and balanced responses. This feature encourages you to explore new perspectives by constructively challenging your ideas. For instance, if you're brainstorming a creative project, Copilot might suggest alternative approaches or highlight potential challenges, fostering more informed and well-rounded decision-making. This capability makes Copilot a valuable tool for both personal and professional growth. Copilot's integration with the Edge browser introduces AI-powered tools that simplify your online activities. Tasks such as booking appointments, filling out forms, or summarizing web pages become more efficient with this feature. Available on both Windows and Mac, this integration allows you to activate Copilot directly within the browser, making sure that assistance is always within reach. Whether you're conducting research or managing personal tasks, this feature enhances your productivity and streamlines your online experience. The "Hey, Copilot" feature introduces hands-free access to the AI assistant, allowing you to execute tasks with simple voice commands. Whether you need to open files, launch applications, or perform specific actions, this functionality eliminates the need to navigate through menus, allowing you to focus on your work without interruptions. By integrating voice activation, Copilot becomes an even more accessible and efficient tool for managing your daily tasks. At its core, Copilot is designed to enhance both productivity and creativity. By reimagining Microsoft's core tools like Windows and Edge for the AI era, Copilot enables you to work smarter and more efficiently. Whether you're drafting a document, designing a presentation, or managing a complex project, Copilot provides the support you need to achieve your goals with ease. Its ability to adapt to your unique workflow ensures that you can focus on what truly matters. With these updates, Microsoft's Copilot emerges as a versatile and forward-thinking AI assistant, redefining how you interact with technology. By combining advanced features with a user-centric design, Copilot creates a more connected, intuitive, and efficient digital experience. Whether you're collaborating on a project, managing personal tasks, or exploring creative ideas, these innovations ensure that technology adapts to your needs, making it a valuable companion in both your personal and professional life.