The rise of AI agents marks a turning point in how organizations build, innovate, and operate. No longer confined to simple chatbots or task assistants, agents are becoming dynamic collaborators embedded within our everyday tools and workflows.

At Microsoft Ignite, we introduced Work IQ, Fabric IQ, and Foundry IQ to provide the context agents need to reason, act, and deliver business value. In addition, Agent 365—the control plane for AI agents—helps organizations observe, manage, and secure their agents, delivering observability at every layer.

Many leaders I talk to feel a sense of urgency to embrace agentic innovation, but they find the path from experimentation to execution challenging. Fragmented licensing and procurement can delay adoption and make it difficult to budget for AI at scale. Likewise, a lack of deep technical expertise or general AI fluency across the organization can make it hard to execute on their vision. Beyond that, rapidly evolving tech can quickly disrupt long-term plans. Organizations need a modular, flexible tech stack that enables every maker to build with the best available tools, swap components, and integrate with their existing business context and systems.

Introducing Microsoft Agent Factory

IQ for every agent. Choice for every maker. Deploy anywhere.

Microsoft Agent Factory is a new program designed for organizations that want to move from experimentation to execution faster. With a single metered plan, organizations can build agents with Work IQ, Fabric IQ, and Foundry IQ using Microsoft Foundry and Copilot Studio. They can also deploy their agents anywhere, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, with no upfront licensing and provisioning required. Eligible organizations can also tap into hands-on engagement from top AI Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) and access tailored role-based training to boost AI fluency across teams. Customers can choose to leverage these components individually or together to support their unique organizational needs.

Microsoft Agent Pre-Purchase Plan

Unlock predictable savings and long-term value with one simple metered plan

The Microsoft Agent Pre-Purchase Plan (P3) is a new, unified offer that lets customers access both Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry services through one pool of funds, eliminating the need to choose between platforms or manage multiple contracts. Customers simply purchase Agent Commit Units (ACUs) up front in a 1-year metered plan and use them flexibly across the included Microsoft services. This approach simplifies procurement, and enables organizations to build, deploy, and scale AI agents with greater predictability. 

*If Microsoft Copilot Studio generates a retail cost of $100 based on Copilot Credit and Microsoft Foundry usage, then 100 Agent CUs (ACUs) are consumed.

*Pricing as November 2025, subject to change

Microsoft Forward Deployed Engineers

Your IP. Our experts. Rapid innovation.

To further accelerate innovation, organizations can now build directly with Microsoft Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs). This model is designed for organizations that are ready to solve significant technology problems rapidly with production-grade AI solutions to transform their business. It partners AI engineers with deep technical expertise in Microsoft’s AI and IQ technologies side-by-side with our customers’ teams to co-innovate. Our approach emphasizes speed, targeting delivery of production-ready solutions in just weeks. The best part? Organizations retain full control of their data, IP, and any improvements developed during the project. Plus, they have direct access to Microsoft Product Engineering to share feedback on key products and features. Whether an organization wants to build one or several solutions, Microsoft FDEs will collaborate closely to prioritize their ideas and make them real.

Customized Training

Access tailored role-based training to boost AI fluency across teams

AI transformation only succeeds when everyone in the organization is prepared to activate it. That’s why we’re helping organizations embrace the AI era across teams and functions. As part of the Microsoft Agent Factory program, our skilling experts will work with organizations to map out a tailored learning plan aligned to their business goals. Then we deliver live, instructor‑led training and webinars to help upskill their workforce at scale. The outcome: faster AI adoption, confident AI builders, and stronger ROI for AI investments. Learn more.   

Accelerate innovation with Microsoft Agent Factory

When combined with Microsoft IQ and AI capabilities, Microsoft Agent Factory helps organizations simplify procurement, accelerate innovation, and ensure every role builds the skills needed to thrive in the era of intelligent agents. It’s not just a program; it’s a foundation for AI transformation. We can’t wait to see how our customers use it.