Microsoft is working on yet another OpenClaw-like agent

Microsoft is testing ways to integrate OpenClaw-like features into its existing Microsoft 365 Copilot tool. The new features, which the company has confirmed The informationwould be aimed at enterprise customers, with better security controls than the famously risky open source OpenClaw agent.

OpenClaw is a tool that runs locally on a user’s computer and can create agents to perform tasks on the person’s behalf. If Microsoft comes up with its own version of a Claw — that is, an agent that runs locally — the effort would join a number of other agentic tools the company has announced in recent months.

For example, Microsoft announced this in March Copilot Coworkthat’s designed to perform actions in Microsoft 365 apps, not just display search results or chat in a separate work pane. Cowork is powered by its own software “Work IQ” technologyan intelligence layer that tries to personalize Cowork for the user in Microsoft 365 apps.

Microsoft has also tapped Anthropic’s Claude to power Cowork, after partnering with the AI ​​lab late last year. Microsoft has added Claude as an available option for Cowork. (Although OpenClaw can work with multiple models, Claude remains the model of choice for many users of the open source project.) However, Cowork does not run on the local hardware; it runs in the cloud.

Also Microsoft in February introduced co-pilot dutiesanother agent designed to perform tasks, which was released in preview at the time. The marketing materials gave the impression that this agent was more focused on prosumers than enterprises, with tasks he should be able to perform ranging from organizing email (a Microsoft 365-like task) to organizing travel and appointments (tasks outside of Microsoft’s Office suite). However, this also runs in the cloud.

It’s not yet clear if this Claw would be local or if it would simply adopt some of the other features that OpenClaw loves. Microsoft did tell The Information that one of the key features of the agent is that it would essentially be a version of 365 Copilot that always works and can take action at any time. The idea is an agent that can perform multi-step tasks over extended periods of time.

Although the OpenClaw open source project can run on Windows machines, the Mac Mini is the go-to platform for OpenClaw users. So much so that small, affordable, cube-shaped Mac Mini desktops are suddenly selling like hotcakes. So, beyond safetyMicrosoft may have a number of reasons for wanting its own version.

The company is expected to show off this new Claw (or an upgraded version of one of its existing Claw-like tools) at the Microsoft Build conference in June, The Verge reports this.

We asked Microsoft how the new Claw agent fits in with these other agents and will update the story as we receive comment.