Microsoft 365 will let admins manage AI agents with a series of permissions

Good news for all admins out there. Microsoft 365 will finally allow you to manage AI agents meticoulsly, and according to the most recent entry to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, the new enhancement will be coming soon.

In the announcement, the Redmond-based tech giant stressed the capabilities of an AI admin. Here’s everything you need to know:

• AI Admins are responsible for establishing and managing connections that allow Copilot to index data stored in Microsoft Graph (the data platform for Microsoft 365) and perform actions. This ensures that the AI can access the data required to function effectively.
• Admins regulate which users, called “makers,” can create Copilot connections. This helps maintain control over who can build these connections, ensuring compliance and security.
• Admins can specify and manage the data sources used by Copilot connections. This ensures that the AI uses appropriate and authorized data for its operations.
• Admins oversee all Copilot connections, allowing them to monitor activity, ensure proper functionality, and address any issues that arise.
• Admins can review and either approve or reject agents (bots or automated tools) based on their suitability and compliance with organizational policies.
• Admins can pre-install agents for users within their organization without requiring individual consent. This streamlines deployment and ensures that users can access the tools they need.
• Admins can access and manage these agents through the integrated apps page in the Microsoft 365 admin center, making overseeing their deployment and usage easy.

As an AI Admin, you manage agents with various capabilities including creating and overseeing Copilot connections that index data in Graph and perform actions, controlling which makers can build these connections and regulating the data sources used, maintaining observability over all connections, approving or denying agents, pre-installing them without requiring consent, and viewing them in Microsoft 365 admin center integrated apps page.

The new enhancements to Microsoft 365 regarding AI admins’ permissions will be added to the platform in June 2025.