Windows 11's Taskbar and search box is about to get an agentic upgrade with AI agent integration

Microsoft has unveiled a new feature coming soon to Windows 11 that will allow AI agents to integrate with the Taskbar for users to access at a moment's notice.

"As Windows evolves into a canvas for AI, agents are deeply integrated across the OS, extending the same contracts that apps use today to new surfaces and scenarios," says Microsoft. "With Agents on the taskbar, agents will become as easy to use and common as applications on Windows."

The company says that the Taskbar will be able to show an icon when an agent is active, allowing the user to hover over it to see at a glance information such as progress and context. This should make monitoring the agent easy and convenient.

"You will be able to invoke, monitor, and manage Copilot and AI agents directly from the Windows taskbar. This unified agentic experience makes AI agents more visible, accessible, and interactive across Windows."

This feature will be important for those who are concerned about the potential security risks imposed by agentic capabilities in Windows. Microsoft has warned that enabling these experimental agentic features on Windows 11 do impose security risks such as XPIA injection, where an AI could be tricked into installing malware.

In addition to being able to see agents and their progress on the Taskbar, Microsoft is also enhancing the new Ask Copilot Taskbar search box with the ability to @ agents in the text box, allowing you to invoke them seamlessly within the Windows UI.

• One-click access to Copilot from your taskbar: This opt-in experience is the most integrated and natural way to engage with Copilot through voice or text in the way that works best for you. Classified as Microsoft Confidential Commercial users will have all the power of their Work IQ as contextual information that you can reference in your Copilot chats and with Microsoft 365 AI Agents.
• Invoke agents: You’ll be able to invoke agents directly from Ask Copilot on the taskbar using the tools button or by typing ‘@.’
• Streamlined search experience: Lightning-fast results in a refreshed design makes finding apps, files, and settings easier.

Microsoft has revealed that AI agents will utilize a new 'agentic workspace' feature that's coming to Windows 11, designed to securely contain agents in their own desktop environment, with access to your own apps and files. You'll be able to instruct an AI to complete a task for you, and you can either watch it as it works, or get on with your own task to complete two goals at once.

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