What it does
Microsoft describes Agent Mode as AI that can evaluate results, fix issues and repeat until an outcome is verified. It began as a Frontier preview in September 2025. Later reports describe general availability in April 2026, along with multi-step plans and Python in Edit with Copilot. Confirm what your plan includes before you build a process around it.
Good first jobs
- Cleaning a messy export into a table
- Building a first draft of a summary sheet and chart
- Adding helper columns and consistent formatting
What to keep
Keep final figures, approvals and any change to a shared source file with a person. Work on a copy until you trust the process.
A simple review habit
Ask the agent to list every sheet and range it changed. Then reconcile one known total before the file goes further.