en.Wedoany.com Reported - Microsoft has launched a service called Work IQ, aimed at fundamentally changing how enterprise software operates. The core of this service allows AI agents to dynamically discover data structures at runtime, replacing the traditional model of relying on manually written code to connect different applications.
A key capability of Work IQ is getSchema, which enables agents to understand the existence, organization, and interaction methods of data without relying on predefined models or integrations. In traditional enterprise IT systems, different applications are typically connected via APIs or data transfer protocols, requiring developers to write code. Work IQ attempts to let agents autonomously complete this connection and query process.
To achieve this goal, Microsoft has compressed thousands of potential operations in the enterprise into 10 universal tools, including basic functions such as get, create, and update. These tools are standardized across the organization, allowing agents to build dynamic operation sets in real time based on them. Bryan Goode, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's Business Applications and Agent Division, stated that the Work IQ API is optimized for the unique needs of agents, reducing the number of round trips to the service, thereby lowering latency and improving token efficiency.
At the user interaction level, Microsoft has introduced the Ask API, which exposes the full Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat experience as a single service to external applications. The system internally handles reasoning, tool selection, and action execution, providing the same depth and intelligence as Copilot. Work IQ also blends custom instructions and saved memories to adapt to user interaction preferences.
Regarding cost control, Work IQ adopts a consumption-based pricing model tied to tool calls, orchestration, and reasoning. As the API becomes generally available, Microsoft will add consumption management features in the Microsoft 365 admin center, allowing administrators to set cost controls at the tenant, group, and user levels, and monitor usage.
In terms of security and governance, Microsoft emphasizes that every call is authenticated via Microsoft Entra, with data, context, and insights remaining within the tenant's trust boundary. Work IQ is governed by Purview, including eDiscovery, auditing, data loss prevention, and sensitivity labels. Microsoft notes that centralizing to Work IQ is described as reducing the attack surface, avoiding security and compliance gaps that would arise from each agent establishing its own data storage.
Microsoft believes that Work IQ is groundbreaking at the architectural level, but enterprise adoption still faces challenges. The cost of AI agents, the non-deterministic nature of operations, and the complexity of security governance mean that enterprises may not immediately fully transition to an agent-first operational model. It is expected that future enterprise IT will present a hybrid form, combining AI agents with traditional operations, gradually advancing through pilot projects and small-scale expansions.
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