Microsoft announced its Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat on January 15, introducing "pay-as-you-go" agents that facilitate the creation of task-automating chatbots using natural language. This move is seen as a way to legitimize automation in business tech. Users can access agents starting at $30 per month or on a metered basis at $0.01 per message. Analysts highlight the integration with SharePoint as a key advantage for Microsoft in this evolving digital workplace landscape.