You’ve likely heard about vibe coding, where beginners create apps using simple AI prompts. Microsoft is stepping up with something similar for its Office apps. They’re launching a feature called Agent Mode for Excel and Word. It can produce complex spreadsheets and documents just from a prompt.
Sumit Chauhan, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for Office, said, “Today, we’re bringing vibe working to Microsoft 365 Copilot.” Agent Mode will make complex Excel tasks simpler, even for non-experts. “It delivers work a first-year consultant would typically do in just minutes.”
Agent Mode breaks down tasks, using OpenAI’s GPT-5 model to guide users step by step. It’s like watching an automated process unfold in real-time, showing each action in a sidebar. Microsoft has put a lot of effort into the validation process for these tasks, ensuring the outputs are accurate and reliable. In fact, Agent Mode in Excel scored 57.2% on the SpreadsheetBench, a standard for AI performance in real-world tasks. While that’s impressive, it still trails behind humans, who score an average of 71.3%.
In Word, Agent Mode changes how documents are created. It makes writing feel more like a conversation, offering suggestions and improving flow. For example, it can draft a monthly report and summarize key points based on previous data. “The writing process becomes a dialogue rather than a chore,” Chauhan explains.
Microsoft’s new Office Agent can also operate outside these apps via Copilot chat. It uses ChatGPT-inspired technology to create structured PowerPoint presentations and Word documents from conversational prompts. “PowerPoint has struggled with AI-generated slides in the past, but Office Agent could change that,” Chauhan notes.
This move is part of Microsoft’s ongoing journey to enhance Office with AI elements. While maintaining a commitment to OpenAI, they’re also exploring new technologies from Anthropic, a rival AI company. Microsoft is looking to combine strengths from various models to elevate their products further.
Interestingly, these new features are currently available for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers, with web access first. Desktop support is set to come later, signaling Microsoft’s phased approach to rolling out these advancements.
In today’s fast-paced digital environment, tools like these may redefine productivity in both personal and professional settings. So, it’s an exciting time to watch how these innovations will change the way we work.
For more information about Microsoft’s AI developments, you can check out their official announcement.
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