Microsoft is making a big move with its Microsoft 365 Copilot by adding some impressive AI-powered research tools. These tools, called ‘Researcher’ and ‘Analyst’, are part of a broader trend in AI, similar to what we’re seeing from OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and xAI’s Grok. The focus here is on AI that can think critically and solve complex problems—exactly what you need for serious research tasks.
Let’s dive into what these tools can do. ‘Researcher’ uses OpenAI’s deep research model, the same tech behind ChatGPT, but with added orchestration and search capabilities. Microsoft claims Researcher can handle in-depth analyses, like crafting market entry strategies or putting together quarterly client reports. On the other hand, ‘Analyst’ is built on OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model and is designed for more advanced data analysis. It can refine its approach over time and give you detailed responses. Plus, Analyst can run Python code for complex data queries and even show you how it got there for full transparency.
One standout feature of these tools is their ability to access both enterprise and web data. Imagine Researcher tapping into third-party data sources like Confluence, ServiceNow, and Salesforce to boost its research capabilities. However, there’s a challenge: ensuring these tools don’t spit out incorrect information or ‘hallucinate’. Even advanced models like o3-mini sometimes misreference sources or draw wrong conclusions, often relying on unreliable web content.
