The AI tools, some acting autonomously and others in concert with a worker, can complete tasks like researching and sorting through sales leads or updating a customer support ticket after a phone call.

Microsoft will allow organizations to create their own autonomous AI agents within Copilot Studio, the tech giant's platform for customizing and building so-called "copilot" assistants, starting next month.

Salesforce has also touted the potential of AI agents, tools that some analysts say could provide companies with an easier path to monetizing the billions of dollars they are pouring into AI.