(Source: Microsoft)
Microsoft recently introduced AI-powered agents in SharePoint, aimed at simplifying how organizations interact with their content. These agents, now generally available, empower users to swiftly access insights and make informed decisions by leveraging the wealth of information stored within SharePoint sites.
Understanding SharePoint Agents
SharePoint agents are AI-driven assistants tailored to specific tasks and subjects, providing precise answers and insights to support effective decision-making. Each SharePoint site includes a default agent that utilizes the site's content. Users can also create custom agents that access selected information across multiple sites, folders, or individual files.
Creating Custom Agents
Developing a custom agent in SharePoint is straightforward:
Navigate to SharePoint: Log in to Microsoft 365 and access the desired SharePoint site.
Select Content: Choose specific files, folders, or entire sites that the agent should reference.
Create the Agent: Click on "Create an Agent" from the menu.
Customize: Assign a name, image, and description to the agent. You can also define its behavior, such as the tone of responses and sample prompts.
This process enables users to tailor agents to their unique needs, ensuring that the AI provides relevant and accurate information.
Integration with Microsoft Teams
SharePoint agents can be seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Teams, enhancing collaboration:
Sharing Agents: Users can share agents via email or within Teams chats by copying a link to the agent.
Interaction: In Teams, users can interact with the agent by @mentioning it in a chat, allowing the agent to provide information and answer questions based on its configured knowledge sources.
This integration ensures that team members have access to critical information within their primary communication platform.
Security and Permissions
Microsoft emphasizes data security with SharePoint agents:
Adherence to Permissions: Agents respect existing SharePoint permissions, ensuring users access only information they are authorized to view.
Data Protection: Agents operate within the secure boundaries of Microsoft 365, maintaining high standards of data privacy and security.
This approach prevents oversharing of sensitive information and maintains organizational data integrity.
Real-World Applications
Organizations are leveraging SharePoint agents in various ways:
Accelerating Customer Support: Companies like Eaton have created agents for process documentation and knowledge sharing, aiding IT and engineering teams by simplifying information retrieval and enhancing efficiency.
Onboarding New Employees: Custom agents assist new hires by providing access to essential information, helping them acclimate more quickly.
Product Support: Agents based on product documentation serve as a 24/7 first line of triage for handling issues, offering trend analysis, root cause analysis, and more.
These applications demonstrate the versatility and impact of SharePoint agents across different business functions.
Getting Started
To begin utilizing SharePoint agents:
Access Your SharePoint Site: Log in to your Microsoft 365 account and navigate to the relevant SharePoint site.
Interact with the Default Agent: Click on the Copilot icon to start interacting with the site's default agent.
Create Custom Agents: Select specific files or folders and use the "Create an Agent" feature to develop a custom agent tailored to your needs.
By integrating AI-powered agents into SharePoint, Microsoft is enhancing productivity and collaboration, enabling users to harness their organization's knowledge more effectively.
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