AI Agent & Copilot Podcast: Microsoft's Bryan Goode on the Big Picture of Transforming with AI

Key Takeaways

• Customer perspective: There's incredible demand across customers and users. Goode reports, "We know from our surveys that roughly three out of every four information workers are already starting to use AI inside the business and so this is something that's already happening." Finding inspiration, Goode looks at how AI-native startups are scaling "much faster than their SaaS brethren," which is telling of the customer demand behind this technology.
• Making the transition: As demand rises, organizations are feeling compelled to transform processes with AI. It's most important, Goode emphasizes, for customers to be intentional about where they deploy AI. "Where customers are intentional, they tend to see greater impact, so that's a key starting place." Picking a specific area, like customer service or sales or finance, and determining what AI can do to rewire that function is key.
• The big picture: Zooming out, Goode names Copilots and agents as the vision. "Our vision is that every individual, every employee will have access to a Copilot to help make them more productive," he says. Similarly, there will also be agents that are focused on automating key business processes. Bringing these together can "unlock a lot of magic."
• Data layer: Good data leads to good AI and good outcomes. Investing in a data platform is critical. "You want to pick assets across the data warehouse and the security and compliance tools," Goode notes. "You also want to pull in that unstructured data from productivity...that's where you can really unlock a lot of magic, and so this investment in the data layer is critical to delivering good AI results."
• Recommendations for business leaders: Goode lists three key tips for business leaders to make the most out of the opportunities that come from AI and agents:
  • First, it's important to be intentional and apply Copilot and agents to parts of your business where you'll be able to focus your effort and see good results.
  • Second, customers need to start with an enterprise agent platform and think about a platform that enables them to build customer agents and manage their overall agent estate.
  • Third, get your data in order.