Microsoft has unveiled Scout, a new artificial intelligence (AI) assistant designed to operate continuously alongside users at its annual developer conference.
The assistant is built on the OpenClaw framework, an open-source project that attracted significant attention earlier this year for its highly autonomous approach to AI agents.
According to Microsoft, Scout is designed to function as a persistent digital assistant that can learn from user behaviour over time. Users can create and name their own instance of the assistant, which is intended to develop a customised understanding of individual work habits, preferences and recurring tasks.
Microsoft said the system can be trained through ongoing feedback, allowing it to automate workflows and adapt to different working styles. The company plans to make Scout available through its Frontier programme, which provides early access to experimental products. Access will require a GitHub Copilot subscription.
Operating through the cloud, Scout can interact with Microsoft 365 applications and other connected services across desktop and web environments. The assistant will launch with a range of built-in capabilities, including calendar management and meeting preparation tools, while also allowing users to create personalised skills tailored to their specific needs, as per Microsoft.
Alongside Scout, Microsoft also announced updates to Copilot, a new reasoning-focused AI model and Project Solara, a hardware-oriented AI initiative.