6 minutes read
In 2026, Microsoft SharePoint has evolved from a static document repository into a dynamic, agentic ecosystem. Unlike traditional search tools that simply find files, SharePoint Agents are autonomous digital teammates capable of reasoning across your data, planning multi-step workflows, and executing tasks on your behalf.
1. What is Agentic AI in SharePoint?
“Agentic” refers to AI that can take action. While standard Generative AI might summarize a document when asked, Agentic AI in SharePoint can:
Reason: Evaluate content across multiple files to identify risks or opportunities.
Plan: Determine the necessary steps to complete a goal (e.g., “Draft a project proposal based on these three meeting transcripts”).
Execute: Trigger external workflows, such as sending approvals or updating a CRM, via Power Automate integration.
2. Key Capabilities & Features
SharePoint agents are grounded in your specific site data, ensuring they only provide answers based on your organization’s trusted information.
| Feature | Description |
| One-Click Creation | Create an agent instantly from any document library or folder. |
| Multi-Document Intelligence | Ask questions that require synthesizing data from up to 20 different sources (sites or libraries). |
| Knowledge Agent | An AI layer that automatically tags metadata, identifies broken links, and suggests content for retirement. |
| Semantic Search | Understands intent rather than just keywords (e.g., “Find the latest budget” instead of searching for “Budget_v4_Final.xlsx”). |
| Proactive Automation | Agents can suggest Power Automate flows based on how you interact with documents. |
3. How to Create and Deploy Agents
There are two primary ways to deploy agentic capabilities in SharePoint:
Method A: Built-in SharePoint Agents (No-Code)
Best for site owners who need a quick, focused assistant for a specific project.
Navigate to a Document Library or the Site Home.
Click the Copilot icon in the top right.
Select “Create an Agent”.
Configure: Give it a name, a professional tone, and select the specific files it should use as its “brain.”
Share: Copilot creates a .agent file (stored in Site Assets) that you can share with your team.
Method B: Copilot Studio (Low-Code/Pro-Code)
Best for complex enterprise workflows requiring external data or multi-agent orchestration.
External Connectors: Connect the agent to Salesforce, Jira, or SQL databases.
Multi-Agent Orchestration: One “Master Agent” can delegate specialized tasks to a “Legal Agent” or “Finance Agent.”
Custom Topics: Manually define specific conversational paths or triggers.
4. Governance, Security, and Permissions
Microsoft’s “Agentic” framework is built on a Zero Trust model.
Permission-Based Grounding: An agent cannot see or report on any file that the user interacting with it does not already have permission to access.
Entra Agent ID: Every AI agent has a verifiable identity, allowing admins to audit every action the agent takes via the Power Platform Admin Center.
Sensitivity Labels: Integration with Microsoft Purview ensures that files labeled “Confidential” are handled with strict privacy protocols.
5. Use Cases for 2026
Legal & Compliance: An agent that scans new contracts for “non-standard” clauses by comparing them against the company’s approved templates.
HR Onboarding: A digital assistant that guides new hires through their specific benefits package based on their location and role.
Project Management: An agent that aggregates weekly status reports and flags “at-risk” projects without human intervention.
Support for File Types
SharePoint agents currently support a wide array of formats, including:
Office: .docx, .pptx, .xlsx
Universal: .pdf, .txt, .rtf
Web & New Formats: .aspx, .html, .loop
Agentic AI FAQs
As you dive deeper into the world of Agentic AI within Microsoft SharePoint, several common questions arise regarding its deployment, cost, and governance. Here are the most frequently asked questions for 2026.
Creation & Accessibility
Who can create a SharePoint Agent?
Any user with Edit permissions on a site or document library can create an agent. You also need either a Microsoft 365 Copilot license or your organization must have pay-as-you-go billing enabled for SharePoint agents.
If created from the homepage, it lives in Site Assets > Copilots.
If created within a specific folder, it stays in that folder alongside your documents.
Can I share my agent with people outside my team?
Yes. You can share an agent just like any other file in SharePoint by sending a link. However, the recipient must have access to the underlying documents for the agent to provide them with any information.
Security & Privacy
Will an agent reveal files that a user isn’t supposed to see?
No. Agents strictly follow SharePoint’s existing permission model. If a user doesn’t have access to “Project_X_Budget.xlsx,” the agent will not use that file to answer their questions. It cannot “leak” data across permission boundaries.
Does Microsoft use my SharePoint data to train its global AI models?
No. Your data stays within your Microsoft 365 tenant boundary. It is used only to “ground” the agent’s responses for your specific organization and is not used to train the underlying Large Language Model (LLM).
Can I block agents on highly sensitive sites?
Yes. Admins can enable Restricted Content Discovery. This removes the Copilot icon, prevents the creation of new agents, and ensures the site’s content cannot be used as a source for other agents.
Capabilities & Limitations
How many files can one agent “read”?
You can currently select up to 20 sources per agent. A source can be a single file, a folder, or an entire SharePoint site.
What is the “Ready-Made Agent”?
Every SharePoint site now comes with a pre-configured agent by default. It is automatically scoped to all content on that specific site. You cannot delete it, but admins can hide it if necessary.
What is the difference between a SharePoint Agent and a Copilot Studio Agent?
- SharePoint Agent: Focused on finding and summarizing information within SharePoint. Quick to build (no-code).
Copilot Studio Agent: Designed for complex automation, connecting to external APIs (like Salesforce or SAP), and managing multi-step business logic.
Costs & Licensing
Are SharePoint Agents free?
They are included at no additional cost for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. For users without this license, organizations can enable a pay-as-you-go model via Azure, where they are billed based on the number of interactions.
Do I need a special license for the “Admin Agent”?
The SharePoint Admin Agent typically requires SharePoint Premium or specific governance add-ons to access advanced features like “oversharing” reports and automated site lifecycle management.
