Microsoft is working on another OpenClaw supporter

Microsoft is testing ways to integrate things like OpenClaw into its Microsoft 365 Copilot tool. New, the company confirmed The Informationit may be aimed at business customers, with better security controls than the popular open source threat OpenClaw.

OpenClaw is a tool that runs locally on the user’s computer and can create agents to work on the user’s behalf. If Microsoft comes up with its own version of Claw – that is, an assistant that travels locally – the effort will join many other devices that the company has announced in the past few months.

In March, for example, Microsoft announced Copilot Coworkwhich is designed to take action in Microsoft 365 applications, not just to provide search results or to chat in another work area. Cowork is managed by its own “Work IQ” skillsa smart team that tries to customize Cowork for the user on Microsoft 365 apps.

Microsoft also tapped Anthropic’s Claude to power Cowork, after partnering with the AI ​​lab late last year. Microsoft added Claude as an option available for Cowork. (Although OpenClaw can work with multiple models, Claude is still the model of choice (for many users of the open source project.) However, Cowork does not support local tools; it moves in the cloud.

In February, Microsoft too introduced Copilot Tasksanother agent designed to complete the task, which was released during the preview. The marketing materials made the agent sound like it was aimed more at prosumers than businesses, with tasks it should be allowed to perform ranging from managing emails (a Microsoft 365-like service) to scheduling appointments and appointments (services outside the Microsoft Office suite of apps). This, however, also runs in the cloud.

It is not yet known if this Claw will be local or if it will just be based on other features that OpenClaw recommends. Microsoft told The Information that one of the main features of the assistant is that it can be a version of 365 Copilot that is always working, able to take action at any time. An idea is an agent that can complete multiple tasks over a long period of time.

While the OpenClaw open source project can run on Windows machines, the Mac Mini has become the go-to platform for OpenClaw users. So much so that the small, inexpensive, cube-shaped Mac Mini desktops have them suddenly they are selling like hotcakes. Therefore, beyond securityMicrosoft may have several reasons for wanting its version.

The company is expected to show the new Claw (or an updated version of its Claw-like devices) at its Microsoft Build conference in June, The Verge says so.

We’ve asked Microsoft how the new Claw agent works with these other agents and will update the story when we receive feedback.