Episodios

  • Ep 33 - what to look out for at Ignite 2025
    Nov 10 2025

    Send us a text

    With Ignite just a week away, Zoe and Kevin got together to pick out some interesting sessions as well as several chats about what the key themes coming across are. Naturally, Copilot and agents were our main focus but there were also a couple of other areas that caught our eye.

    See the sessions at https://ignite.microsoft.com.

    Sessions mentioned (or that we ran out of time to mention):

    - BRK402 Our Agentic Era: Building Accessible and Responsible AI for Everyone

    Low code

    - BRK1742 Advanced Agent Development with Copilot Studio

    - BRK 314 -Building agents with Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry

    Pro code - lots about scaling

    - BRK1706 - Innovation Session: Your AI Apps and Agent Factory

    - BRK189 AI agents in Azure AI Foundry, ship fast, scale fearlessly

    - BRK411 Beyond Models: What No One's Telling you about Scaling Agents

    Securing and managing agents

    - BRK306 Innovation Session: Latest AI agent innovation in security, control and productivity

    - BRK265 Secure access for AI agents with Microsoft Entra

    In-person

    - THR821 Copilot for Physical AI

    - THR763 Copilot & agent intelligence: Reporting for frontier firms

    - THR759 Copilot Trust & Safety: Controls to manage AI risk

    One for fun

    - BRK 432 Scott & Mark learn to connect the dots

    Not mentioned but still interesting

    - BRK292 Fireside chat: How customers are unlocking value & growth with Copilot

    - BRK319 Build Agents for Copilot with the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit

    - BRK167 Maintain regulatory compliance with the Microsoft Sovereign Cloud

    - BRK288 SharePoint: The Knowledge Platform for Copilot and Agents

    - BRK281 Unlocking the all-in-one AI Advantage of Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Ep 32 - catching up on news after a busy summer
    Sep 19 2025

    Send us a text

    It has been a little while since the last episode with Zoe and Kevin so they share some of their own news on why things have been a little quieter over the summer and then discuss the latest updates and news from Microsoft 365 Copilot. We recap recent events, including the Collab Summit North America, Experts Live UK conference, and share our upcoming events.

    On the news side we delve into significant announcements from lasast couple of months, including the introduction of the Knowledge Agent to "Frontier Firms", licensing changes, and the implications of GPT-5. Plus, Zoe pulls off some awesome dance moves without even realising it.

    AI powered Takeaways

    • The Knowledge Agent aims to enhance knowledge management within organizations.
    • Licensing changes are designed to encourage broader adoption of Copilot features.
    • AI's role in the workplace is becoming increasingly significant.
    • Organizations must address foundational knowledge management issues to leverage AI effectively.
    • The conversation highlights the need for ongoing discussions about AI's impact on work and society.

    Useful links

    Agents

    • Introducing Knowledge Agent in SharePoint | Microsoft Community Hub
    • https://demos.microsoft.com/microsoft/play/5140/knowledge-agents#/0/0
    • Microsoft 365 Copilot: Enabling human-agent teams | Microsoft 365 Blog
    • Moving sales, service, and finance to the Frontier with Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 Blog

    Licensing

    • https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/billing-licensing

    GPT 5

    • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

    Copilot Chat in Office Apps

    • https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/copilot-chat-comes-to-the-microsoft-365-apps/4453349

    Viva Engage in Copilot

    • Viva Engage Public Content is Now Available in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Community Hub

    Copilot Mode in Edge

    • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2025/08/07/release-notes-august-7-2025/

    Deal with US Government

    • Accelerating AI adoption for the US government - The Official Microsoft Blog

    Copilot Memory

    • https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-copilot-memory-a-more-productive-and-personalized-ai-
    Más Menos
    56 m
  • CCDev 2 - what you need to think about with MCP
    Jul 29 2025

    Send us a text

    Kevin McDonnell and Garry Trinder delve into the world of Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its implications for developers. We start with a starter overview of functionality of MCP and why it is important. However, we wanted to get beyond that initial view that is covered elsewhere and look at some of the challenges associated with using MCP and broader considerations that you need to be looking at. The conversation covers the importance of optimizing documentation for language models, governance in MCP usage, and strategies for getting started with MCP and then scaling.

    Takeaways

    • MCP is a universal approach to context in AI.
    • MCP servers can execute actions beyond API calls.
    • Optimizing documentation for LLMs is essential for effective AI integration.
    • Trust and governance are critical in using MCP servers.
    • MCP can significantly enhance productivity in software development.
    • Building an MCP server can be straightforward and quick.
    • MCP allows for local execution of actions, enhancing flexibility.
    • The future of MCP involves more robust governance and control mechanisms.
    • Organizations should develop a strategy for managing MCP servers.
    • Experimentation with MCP can lead to unexpected benefits and insights.

    Useful links

    Introduction - Model Context Protocol

    Getting started with Local MCP Servers on Claude Desktop | Anthropic Help Center and For Claude Desktop Users – Model Context Protocol (MCP)

    Use MCP servers in VS Code

    Community built Graph MCP Server - GitHub - merill/lokka: MCP (Model Context Protocol) for Microsoft 365.

    Azure AI Search:

    Full text search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn

    Vector search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn

    Hybrid search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn

    MCP for beginners course - GitHub - microsoft/mcp-for-beginners

    MCP Dev Days 29th/30th July (and available on demand after) - MCP Dev Days | Microsoft Reactor

    Microsoft MCP Lab - GitHub - microsoft/mcsmcp: Lab for creating an MCP Server and using it in Microsoft Copilot Studio.

    Microsoft's MCP Server collection - GitHub - microsoft/mcp: Catalog of official Microsoft MCP (Model Context Protocol) server implementations for AI-powered data access and tool integration

    CLI for m365 MCP server - GitHub - pnp/cli-microsoft365-mcp-server: Manage Microsoft 365 using MCP server

    GitHub - dotnet/dev-proxy: Simulate API failures, throttling, and chaos — all from your command line.




    Más Menos
    1 h y 9 m
  • CCDev 1 - Navigating Copilot extensibility
    Jun 20 2025

    Send us a text

    Welcome to a brand new way of hearing about the latest Copilot extensibility news! In this episode of the Copilot Connection, Kevin swaps out Zoe for Garry Trinder in the first of a spin-off of episodes where we dig deeper into the extensibility side of Copilot.

    In this first episode, we go into an overview of the options that you have for extending Copilot. We talk cover why you would need to extend Copilot, the different ways you can do that (whether by end user, maker or specialist) and touch a little on how you can actually get started with doing it.

    Is there a specific topic that you'd like to see us cover? Let us know!


    Takeaways

    • Extensibility in Copilot allows developers to create tailored solutions.
    • Understanding AI maturity is crucial for effective implementation.
    • Personalization of AI tools enhances user experience and productivity.
    • Scoping and context are essential for effective use of Copilot.
    • Integrating external knowledge sources can enhance AI capabilities.
    • Balancing deterministic and non-deterministic approaches is key in AI applications.
    • Declarative agents simplify the process of building AI solutions.
    • Responsible AI practices are necessary when developing custom solutions.
    • Continuous learning and adaptation are vital in the evolving AI landscape.

    Related links

    • Copilot extensibility learning paths
    • Copilot camp - no actual camping required
    • Community samples
    • Pro dev community samples
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Ep 31 - Copilot at conferences
    Jun 7 2025

    Send us a text

    With the post Build lull in Microsoft news, Zoe and Kevin decided to take a look at some of the upcoming conferences and recommend a few sessions that stood out in the Copilot and agents space. Firstly though, we couldn't resist talking a bit about the collapse of Builder.ai and the re-org of some of the Engineering management teams at Microsoft.

    We also covered our next Copilot Fireside Chat where Daniel Laskewitz will be joining us to answer your questions on Copilot Studio, MCP and whatever else takes your fancy.

    News:

    • Microsoft-backed AI startup chatbots revealed to be human employees | Mashable
    • Microsoft’s LinkedIn chief is now running Office as part of an AI reorg | The Verge

    Conferences covered:

    • European Power Platform Conference | Austria | Jun 16-19, 2025
    • Commsverse 2025 - The Microsoft Teams Conference - Jun 18-19 2025
    • Tech Con 365 Seattle - June 23-27 2025
    • Collab Summit North America - Sep 7-9 2025
    • ESPC25 | Conference | Ireland | Dec 1-4, 2025

    Other ones we mentioned:

    • Collab Days Netherlands - June 21 2025
    • CollabDays Hamburg 2025 - June 28 2025
    • CollabDays Finland 2025 - 11 Sep 2025
    • Experts Live UK 2025 - 16 Sep 2025
    • CollabDays Bletchley Park 2025 - 24 Sep 2025
    • South Coast Summit - 17-18 Sep 2025

    Check out other conferences at Community Days.

    Takeaways

    • Investors need to scrutinize AI startups more closely.
    • The importance of responsible AI practices is paramount.
    • Microsoft's leadership changes signal a new direction.
    • AI's impact on employment is a growing concern.
    • Community conferences are vital for networking and learning.
    • AI literacy is essential for effective use of technology.
    • Clothespilot demonstrates practical AI applications.
    • Engaging with the community enhances knowledge sharing.
    • Fireside chats provide valuable insights from industry experts.



    Más Menos
    1 h y 6 m
  • Ep 30 - building on the Build news
    May 25 2025

    Send us a text

    In this episode of Copilot Connection, hosts Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest updates and insights from the Microsoft Copilot ecosystem from Build as well as a slight detour to the Chelsea Flower Show. We cover topics like M365 Copilot tuning, notebooks, researcher and analyst agents, and SRE agents. We also explore the implications of AI Foundry and the natural language web, while wrapping up with a look at upcoming events and the importance of community engagement.

    Takeaways

    • The Chelsea Flower Show showcased innovative AI applications in gardening.
    • M365 Copilot tuning can transform industries like legal with tailored solutions.
    • Notebooks in Copilot provide a flexible way to organize and query content.
    • Researcher and Analyst agents enhance data analysis and decision-making processes.
    • AI Foundry allows for local model integration, expanding AI capabilities.
    • SRE agents automate software reliability tasks, improving efficiency.
    • Natural language web features enable more intuitive website interactions.
    • Community-driven initiatives are crucial for the development of AI tools.
    • Microsoft's Build conference highlighted significant advancements in AI technology.
    • The importance of ethical considerations in AI deployment is paramount.

    Links

    Avanade Intelligent Garden

    Book of News - https://news.microsoft.com/build-2025-book-of-news/

    Copilot Tuning

    Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs

    Announcing Microsoft Entra Agent ID: Secure and manage your AI agents | Microsoft Community Hub

    microsoft/AI-Red-Teaming-Playground-Labs: AI Red Teaming playground labs to run AI Red Teaming trainings including infrastructure.

    NL Web Introducing NLWeb: Bringing conversational interfaces directly to the web - Source and Debugging GenAI with CAPs + NLWeb + OpenTelemetry: A Real-Time Visibility Unlock | LinkedIn

    Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs

    Reddit post on SRE agent being used in the dotnet repo My new hobby: watching AI slowly drive Microsoft employees insane : r/ExperiencedDevs


    Power Apps Studio with Agent Feed

    Reimagining human-agent collaboration for a new era of app development with Microsoft Power Apps - Microsoft Power Platform Blog

    Walkthrough of agent feed in Power Apps - users and ma

    Más Menos
    1 h y 4 m
  • Ep 29 - Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release
    Apr 26 2025

    Send us a text

    News, news, news - we have lots of new news! Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest announcements from Microsoft about Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release. We delve into the significance of the Work Trend Index, the new user interface and search experience, and the introduction of memory and notebooks features. Then we dig into the management and reporting of agents, the concept of the human-agent ratio (including some extreme reactions to some new phrases from Microsoft...) and the importance of leadership in leveraging AI capabilities. Finally, we cover some of the magical events coming up.

    Takeaways

    • Wave 2 announcements from Microsoft include significant updates and features.
    • The Work Trend Index is crucial for understanding productivity trends.
    • A new user interface is being introduced for a better user experience.
    • Memory features will enhance user interactions with Copilot.
    • Notebooks will allow users to group and summarize conversations.
    • The Create Experience will simplify content creation across platforms.
    • Agent management is becoming more streamlined with the Frontier Program.
    • Understanding the human-agent ratio is essential for effective delegation.
    • Upcoming conferences will provide opportunities for community engagement.

    Sound Bites

    • "The skill of delegation is something that everyone wanted to get."
    • "Minutes saved isn't cashable."
    • "It definitely feels like conference season is in full swing."





    Más Menos
    52 m
  • Ep 28 - Copilot and AI in Healthcare with Gary Raife
    Apr 11 2025

    Send us a text

    In this episode of Copilot Connection, Zoe and Kevin are joined by Gary Raife to discuss the transformative potential of AI and Microsoft Copilot in the healthcare sector. We explore the challenges of interoperability, the role of AI in enhancing patient care, and the exciting developments of Dragon Copilot. The conversation also touches on the integration of personal health data, the importance of trust and transparency in AI applications, and the future of healthcare driven by data and technology.

    Takeaways

    • Healthcare presents a significant opportunity for AI integration.
    • Interoperability remains a critical challenge in healthcare systems.
    • AI can enhance patient experiences and streamline workflows.
    • Dragon Copilot introduces ambient listening capabilities for clinicians.
    • Wearable technology can provide valuable health data for monitoring.
    • Trust and transparency are essential for AI adoption in healthcare.
    • Personal health data integration can improve patient outcomes.
    • AI should support clinicians rather than replace them.
    • The future of healthcare will be increasingly data-driven.
    • Collaboration between technology and healthcare professionals is vital.

    Key links

    • Gary's blog

    News

    • Introducing Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 Blog
    • Copilot Consumer Updates - Your AI Companion - The Official Microsoft Blog
    • New capabilities in Azure AI Foundry to build advanced agentic applications | Microsoft Azure Blog
    • Interpreter Agent
      • Interpreter in Microsoft Teams meetings - Microsoft Support
      • Kevin's view of Interpreter Agent
    • Copilot Studio Toolkit updates announced
    • microsoft/Power-CAT-Copilot-Studio-Kit
    • Introduction - Model Context Protocol
    • Announcing the Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A) - Google Developers Blog

    Healthcare related

    • Meet Microsoft Dragon Copilot: Your new AI assistant for clinical workflow - Microsoft Industry Blogs
    • Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare | Microsoft
    Más Menos
    1 h y 1 m