Microsoft OneDrive has introduced its latest wave of AI innovations, which it says will improve productivity at work and at home.
It has added new Copilot capabilities, as well as updates to its OneDrive platform and mobile application.
According to the cloud storage service, OneDrive, the changes can benefit everyone, from IT professionals working to maintain compliance to parents storing and sorting through family photo albums.
Copilot Agents
Copilot Agents, a custom-built AI assistant, is coming to OneDrive. It will allow users to create their own assistants, automate and simplify tasks, and then share the agents with their team.
Copilot Agents can source your documents, files, and data to create a “powerful” and tailored assistant that knows all your project details before generating new content.
According to Microsoft, the agents are simple to create and can be customised with individual names and icons.
Agents can automate processes when they are directed with requests, such as “summarise the latest budget figures” or “show me the event agenda”.
After the agent has been created, it can then be shared with the team and used across OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint.
Even new team members can easily receive agents and use them with a single click, as they can be shared directly in Teams.
OneDrive for Work
New OneDrive capabilities for workers include a ‘supercharged’ web experience, which allows you to quickly view, edit, and organise your files whether you are online or offline.
An enhanced search function with new filter controls and better results will help you find the precise file or folder you are looking for. By the end of the year, it will be available to commercial customers.
From today, Windows File Explorer will support coloured folders, allowing you to organise your files by colour.
The document library experience is being revamped with greater speed and flexibility for collaboration spaces and a simplified process of locating and creating custom views and filtering data sets.
Finally, users will be able to share files more easily, see who is working on a document, and add expiry dates to links for added security and privacy.
Copilot in OneDrive
Now available for all commercial customers, Copilot in OneDrive includes new Copilot actions like quicker file summaries, easy file comparisons, and answers to specific files.
Microsoft says meeting summaries from OneDrive will be available next year for detailed highlights, key points, and actionable insights. It also revealed the ability to convert files into presentations, thereby allowing Word docs to become PowerPoint presentations.
OneDrive Mobile App
The OneDrive mobile application is gaining a “photos-first” mobile experience so that you can easily navigate through people, albums, and favourites. Android users will be able to enjoy the latest UX from today, while iOS users will have to wait until November.
An improved photo search allows you to search using natural language commands like “Sophia and her dog on a boat.” This functionality has already started rolling out to Microsoft 365 customers, and general availability to all users is expected by the summer of 2025.
More memory types, from holidays to key milestones, will be surfaced by AI, and photo sharing is being made easier as, in one tap, it will be possible to send full-resolution photos via popular messaging apps.
Security
To keep organisational data safe, OneDrive is introducing an AI-driven site policy comparison report, integrating Microsoft Graph Data Connect (MGDC), Restricted Content Discoverability (RCD), and the ability to archive files within your SharePoint Document Libraries.
Future of OneDrive
Microsoft has teased upcoming features coming to OneDrive, which include an AI-powered photo management experience from the mobile app, integration with Microsoft Designer for “effortless” editing, and personalised views to automatically group files and photos based on various themes.
Copilot is also expanding to all the places you work, such as SharePoint, Windows Files Explorer, and macOS Finder, with features like Q&A, Catch Up, and file summarisations and comparisons.
In April, OneDrive was upgraded with several new significant offline capabilities to boost productivity and collaboration.
The same month also saw Microsoft roll out Copilot in OneDrive, having launched Copilot for Finance the previous month.
