Hello again all. Back with an update on how things have been going since my last post.
In the past month, I’ve been diving deep into the world of AI, specifically focusing on AI Agent platforms. The rapid advancements in AI technology have been nothing short of fascinating, so I’ve spent considerable time exploring platforms like Relevance.ai, Google Gemini, BotPress, Zapier AI, and Microsoft Copilot (and I'm keeping an eye on OpenAI's Operator as well). I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options available. So, rather than falling into the trap of analysis paralysis, I made a conscious decision to go deeper into one platform that stood out: Microsoft Copilot Studio.
Why Microsoft Copilot Studio?
Given my background with Microsoft Power Automate—a core element of Copilot Studio—I knew this platform could provide a natural extension of my existing skills. Plus, Microsoft is still the go-to productivity solution for many businesses, and mastering their tools seemed like a strategic choice for both professional and personal growth. To fully commit to this journey, I invested in a Microsoft 365 Business subscription, gaining full access to SharePoint, Dataverse, the Power Platform, and the Copilot Studio add-on. This investment has enabled me to get right into the ecosystem and really explore the potential of the platform over and above what I'm already familiar with.
Additionally, I’ve been proactive about learning through online training offered by Microsoft. The Copilot Studio training modules have been invaluable, providing structured lessons and real-world examples to help me build the skills I need to create powerful AI-driven business solutions.
Key Learning's and Skills. And obviously, there's been a bunch of awesome YouTube videos that have helped walk through various concepts and uses cases. Shout out to Lisa Crosbie and her amazing channel.
Over the course of the last month, I’ve learned some critical skills that have already started to enhance my ability to work with AI agents. One of the first things I focused on was crafting better prompts. This is crucial because effective prompts lead to more accurate and efficient responses from the AI—whether it’s generating insights, creating summaries, or assisting in decision-making processes.
A key discovery along the way has been learning about the use of triggers in Copilot Studio. Triggers are what allow the agent to take action automatically. For instance, the agent can be set up to respond when certain events happen—like when an email arrives, when a form is submitted, or when a spreadsheet or document is updated. These triggers are essential for making the AI truly autonomous, as they let the agent act without needing constant input from the user, which is especially valuable for streamlining workflows and ensuring processes run smoothly in the background.
Another significant area of focus has been managing topics. In the context of Copilot Studio, topics refer to the specific areas of knowledge and actions that the AI can tap into to accomplish a task. I’ve also gotten hands-on with connecting Copilot to various knowledge sources such as SharePoint and Dataverse. This integration has been especially powerful because it allows me to leverage existing organizational data and provide more tailored responses based on this information.
Of course, it’s not just about generating responses—it’s about using the AI to interact with data. I’ve been working on creating systems that pull in user input variables, cross-reference that data with my knowledge sources (files, websites, etc.), and generate outputs that are both relevant and actionable. And, one of the most exciting aspects? Writing the output data back to sources like Excel spreadsheets to keep everything in sync. Going through this learning has taught me the power of not just completing routine tasks, but leveraging the AI Agent to perform complex tasks leveraging stored knowledge in files and on webpages.
The Power of Automation
While I’m not yet an expert, I can already see the transformative power that AI agents bring to the table, especially in automating business processes. From document handling to task management, the ability to create intelligent, autonomous systems that reduce manual work is a game-changer for productivity.
Looking ahead, my journey into AI doesn’t stop here. The next step for me is exploring dynamic image generation. Microsoft Copilot Studio has some impressive capabilities in this area, and I’m eager to learn how AI can enhance visual content creation. Additionally, I plan to expand my knowledge by connecting Copilot to non-Microsoft data sources like Airtable, Monday.com, and Asana. These integrations will further enhance the versatility of my AI agents and open up even more automation possibilities.
The Road Ahead
As I continue learning and experimenting with AI Agents, I’m excited by the endless potential these platforms offer. Each new skill I master opens up more opportunities to streamline business processes, improve efficiency, and create smarter workflows. We all knew ChatGPT and generative AI was going to be important; but now with the ability to leverage them in conjunction with existing in-house knowledge, and have them perform tasks autonomously is going to really shake things up. What better time to lean into the learning!
Comments