Deep Dive into Sharepoint Agents
SharePoint agents are like smart, AI-powered assistants built into SharePoint, Microsoft’s tool for storing, sharing, and managing documents and sites.
If you’re new to SharePoint or just starting to explore its advanced features, you might have heard about SharePoint agents — a powerful addition to Microsoft’s collaboration platform.
Don’t worry if it sounds technical; this introduction will break it down into simple terms so you can understand what they are, how they work, and why they might be useful for you or your team.
What Are SharePoint Agents?
SharePoint agents are like smart, AI-powered assistants built into SharePoint, Microsoft’s tool for storing, sharing, and managing documents and sites.
Think of them as helpful guides that can answer questions, summarize files, or find information for you—all using natural language, like chatting with a friend. They’re powered by the same technology behind Microsoft 365 Copilot, which means they’re designed to make your work easier by understanding and processing the content you already have in SharePoint.
Every SharePoint site comes with a basic, ready-made agent that’s automatically set up to work with the content on that site. But if you have permission to edit a site, you can also create custom agents tailored to specific tasks—like summarizing reports or pulling key details from a document library.
How Do They Work?
Imagine you’ve got a SharePoint site full of project files, and you need a quick answer: “What’s the deadline for this task?” Instead of digging through folders, you can ask the agent, and it will scan the content you’re allowed to see and respond.
It’s like having a search engine that talks back to you! The agent only works with what’s on its assigned site (or sites, for custom agents), and it respects SharePoint’s security rules—so it won’t show you anything you don’t have permission to access.
Why Are They Useful?
SharePoint agents save time and effort. Here’s why beginners might love them:
- Quick Answers: No need to hunt through files—ask the agent, and it finds what you need.
- Summaries Made Easy: Got a long document? The agent can give you the highlights.
- Beginner-Friendly: You don’t need to be a tech expert—just type or talk to it naturally.
For example, if you’re a team member tracking project updates or a student managing group work, an agent can help you stay on top of things without getting lost in the details.
You don’t have to set up much to try a SharePoint agent. If your organization uses Microsoft 365 and has SharePoint, the default agent is already there on every site. To use it, you might need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license (check with your IT team), or your organization might let you try it through a trial or pay-as-you-go option. Just visit a SharePoint site, look for the agent feature (often a chat-like interface), and start asking questions!
In this video, Microsoft’s public affairs team discuss the transformative impact of SharePoint agents on how they manage knowledge. Learn how these agents streamline access to critical data, enhance productivity, and enable customized insights for stakeholders across the globe.
