Vendors are baking agents, long-context reasoning, and “computer use” into core apps—while IT demands guardrails and auditability.
The New Default: AI Inside the Workflow
In 2026, the big shift isn’t another standalone chatbot—it’s AI embedded where work already happens. Microsoft is pushing Copilot and Copilot Studio deeper into Microsoft 365, letting teams build agents that automate multi-step tasks and wire into low-code workflows; its Wave 2/2025–H1/2026 roadmap calls out new agent-building and governance features.
Sales, Service, ERP: Vertical Agents Arrive
Salesforce’s Copilot efforts have evolved into agentized experiences inside Einstein/Agentforce. Meanwhile SAP’s Joule is expanding as role-based “Joule Agents” across the Business Suite—designed to surface context and act in third-party systems as well. Workday continues shipping HR/Finance features with regular AI releases and even moved to acquire AI startup Sana to accelerate knowledge and assistance.
From Answers to Actions: “Computer Use” Goes Mainstream
A notable product pattern: agents that can operate software like a human. Microsoft’s Copilot Studio now supports “computer use,” enabling bots to click, type, and navigate UI when APIs are missing—turning tasks like invoice entry or claims triage into end-to-end automation. Expect 2026 enterprise roadmaps to prioritize safe permissions, human-in-the-loop checkpoints, and audit logs around these capabilities.
Platform Economics: Adoption, Telemetry, and Savings
Vendors are pairing new features with clear adoption metrics and cost stories. ServiceNow reports that Now Assist is embedded across its platform and ties the pitch to productivity and spend reduction; executives highlighted AI’s role in reshaping enterprise cost structures heading into 2026.
Closing Thoughts
The enterprise AI story in 2026 is integration, not novelty. Agents that read screens, respect policy, and leave an audit trail are replacing one-off pilots. The winners will be platforms that meet IT where it lives: model choice, governance, and measurable impact inside daily workflows.
References
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Microsoft 365 Blog — “Microsoft 365 Copilot now enables you to build apps and workflows” — https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/10/28/microsoft-365-copilot-now-enables-you-to-build-apps-and-workflows/
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Microsoft Learn — “New and planned features for Microsoft Copilot Studio, 2025 release wave 2” — https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/release-plan/2025wave2/microsoft-copilot-studio/planned-features
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The Verge — “Microsoft lets Copilot Studio use a computer on its own” — https://www.theverge.com/news/649574/microsoft-copilot-studio-computer-use-ai
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SAP News Center — “New Joule Agents and Embedded Intelligence” — https://news.sap.com/2025/10/sap-connect-business-ai-new-joule-agents-embedded-intelligence/
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Reuters — “Workday to acquire AI firm Sana for $1.1 billion” — https://www.reuters.com/business/workday-acquire-ai-firm-sana-11-billion-2025-09-16/
Authors
Serge Boudreaux — AI Hardware Technologies
Montreal, Quebec
Peter Jonathan Wilcheck — Co-Editor
Miami, Florida
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