SharePoint adds chat-based AI agents for list automations
SharePoint launches Skills in AI as a public preview feature. Users chat with Copilot in the site agent panel to create custom AI agents. These agents use site content and metadata to manage lists, add or update items, and run multi-step workflows. The agents grasp documents to extract requirements or build knowledge bases. They assign tasks without needing Power Automate's drag-and-drop interface. But they cannot create or change document content or pages. This offers a conversational alternative to traditional flows, focused on SharePoint.
Before, beginners faced Power Automate's steep curve for even basic SharePoint tasks like list updates or notifications. Every automation demanded hunting triggers, actions, and expressions, often ending in silent failures after weeks. Now AI agents handle those via natural chat prompts, slashing setup time for simple site work. Production teams gain quick wins without flows, but preview bugs and SharePoint-only scope leave complex approvals or Teams/Outlook links untouched. This splits automations, forcing reliable builders to own the multi-tool orchestration others ignore.
Analysis
This preview dazzle tempts you to ditch flows for chat magic, but it crumbles on the reliability your team demands – isolated SharePoint tricks won't survive months like a proper flow. Test one agent on your next list notification today, spot the gaps immediately, then rebuild it in Power Automate using a community blueprint for error alerts and retries.
Citation
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