Introduction to Work IQ
Work IQ represents the intelligence layer that personalizes Microsoft 365 Copilot according to your specific organizational needs. This technology functions as the "brain" of Copilot, capable of understanding context, relationships, and work patterns to deliver superior performance in terms of speed, accuracy, and security.
Good to know
Work IQ consists of three integrated layers: data, context, and skills and tools. This architecture enables a holistic approach to enterprise artificial intelligence.
Three-Layer Architecture of Work IQ
Multi-Model Approach
Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates foundation models from multiple providers directly into Copilot experiences. Users can choose between OpenAI and Anthropic models, with the planned addition of other advanced providers.
This approach ensures that Work IQ complements the advanced reasoning capabilities and multi-step functionalities of these models, not only through specialized tools, but directly in Copilot experiences.
Data Layer: Secure Foundation
Access to Microsoft 365 Data
The foundation of Work IQ relies on secure access to structured and unstructured data from:
- Microsoft 365: SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Teams
- Dynamics 365: Business record systems
- Power Apps and Power BI (coming soon)
- Connected business systems
Copilot Connectors
Organizations can integrate external business data via Copilot Connectors. This functionality allows Copilot to reason about data residing in non-Microsoft systems:
- Hundreds of pre-built connectors available
- Ability to create custom connectors
- Full integration with existing security policies
Tip
Dataverse integration will enable broad access to Work IQ across all Microsoft 365 Copilot experiences by summer 2026.
Dynamics 365 and Power Apps Integration
Dataverse serves as a container for structured data sets powering Power Apps and Dynamics 365 applications. This integration enables Copilot to answer complex questions connecting business communications to operational data.
Contextual Layer: Adaptive Intelligence
Copilot Memory
Copilot memory enhances personalization through two types of memorization:
Explicit Memory
- Custom instructions created by the user
- Saved memories generated from specific commands
- Full user control over stored preferences
Implicit Memory
- Inferences based on conversation history
- Analysis of activity patterns in Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Continuous improvement of personalization
Important
Upcoming improvements to Copilot memory will include the incorporation of workflows and activity patterns to increase contextual fidelity.
Advanced Semantic Index
The semantic index goes beyond traditional lexical matching by enabling:
- Retrieval based on meaning rather than keywords
- Bounded set of relevant candidates for downstream processing
- Inclusion of data ingested via Copilot Connectors
- Compliance with existing security, privacy, and governance policies
Business Understanding
Work IQ adds a layer of business understanding comprising:
- Ontologies capturing procedural knowledge
- Glossaries of existing business workflows
- Expert understanding of organizational tasks
- Complete vision of business entities and their interactions
Skills and Tools Layer: Specialized Execution
Agentic Skills
Agentic skills provide specialized instructions for specific tasks:
- Automated meeting scheduling
- External data retrieval
- Access to meeting details and transcripts
- Optimization of complex content retrieval
Custom Tools
Tools execute the intent of agentic skills via:
- MCP Server Tools
- Agent Flows
- APIs and Plugins
- Integrated orchestration services
Tip
Customers can create custom agents and add skills and tools that integrate with Work IQ orchestration services.
Integrated Security and Compliance
Compliance with Existing Policies
Work IQ maintains security through compliance with:
- Existing user permissions
- Security group assignments
- Sensitivity labels
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
Regulatory Compliance
Compliance includes:
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
- EU Data Boundary
- International legal and regulatory requirements
User Experiences and Integration
Access for Licensed Users
Licensed Microsoft 365 Copilot users benefit from Work IQ in:
- Copilot Chat with Work toggle enabled
- M365 Applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams
- Dynamics and Power Apps enriched with Dataverse data
Work IQ API for Developers
The Work IQ API exposes Copilot intelligence via:
- Standard RESTful interface
- Integration into custom applications and agents
- Inheritance of Microsoft security and compliance policies
- Public Preview availability this month
Good to know
CLI support is available today, with MCP and A2A support planned for the coming months.
Practical Usage Examples
Recommended Work IQ Commands
Contextual Search
"Over the past [period] days, I had a meeting with [name], I asked for information about [topic]. Can you search for the information that [name] shared during that meeting?"
Task Management
"Identify the tasks or action items assigned to me by my manager in emails, Teams chats, and meeting notes from this week, and compile them into a checklist."
Writing in Word
"Write an executive summary of the [project] that highlights the objective, progress, and implications of its impact on the business."
Outlook Optimization
"Recommend how to resolve conflicts in my calendar for tomorrow."
Advanced Usage in Dynamics 365
"Find the email with the latest price changes, analyze the impact on my opportunities, and recommend next steps to communicate these changes."
Glossary of Terms
Dataverse: A data platform that stores and manages business data for Power Apps and Dynamics 365.
Semantic Index: An indexing system based on meaning rather than keyword matching.
Copilot Connectors: Tools that enable integration of external data into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Agentic Skills: Specialized instructions that enable Copilot to execute specific tasks with precision.
MCP (Model Context Protocol): A standardized protocol for contextual communication between models.
DLP (Data Loss Prevention): Data loss prevention policies to protect sensitive information.
Useful Links
- Official Microsoft 365 Copilot Documentation
- Copilot Connectors Guide
- Work IQ API - Developer Documentation
- Microsoft 365 Security and Compliance
- Dataverse and Power Platform Integration
Conclusion
Work IQ represents a significant advancement in personalizing enterprise artificial intelligence. By combining contextual data, specialized skills, and advanced execution tools, this technology transforms Microsoft 365 Copilot into a truly tailored assistant for specific organizational needs.
Progressive integration with Dynamics 365 and Power Apps will significantly expand Work IQ capabilities, offering organizations artificial intelligence capable of understanding and acting on their entire range of business processes.
