Microsoft Corp. 推出了一款名为「Scout」的新型人工智能软体，旨在像一个始终活跃的员工一样自主运行，并整合到内部电子邮件和日历系统中。Scout 在旧金山举行的 Build 开发者大会上发布，它与 ChatGPT 和 Microsoft 自家的 Copilot 等单一用户机器人不同，因为它拥有自己可共享的身份。负责商业应用和工作场所 AI 产品开发的 Charles Lamanna 指出，Scout 可以独立处理任务，例如协调解决日程冲突。此次发布正值 Microsoft 致力于向客户和华尔街展示其最先进的 AI 能力，特别是在其股价因 Copilot 采用率低于预期以及编码工具竞争加剧而落后于 Amazon.com Inc. 等竞争对手之后。

在技术上，Scout 是构建在 OpenClaw 之上，这是一个将 ChatGPT 和 Claude 模型转化为始终在线代理的平台，其内部被称为 Project Lobster。OpenClaw 先前因能够通过控制用户电脑来执行复杂的桌面任务而引发关注，尽管它也引发了对网络安全漏洞的担忧。借由将此技术直接整合到其产品套件中，Microsoft 正在与 Anthropic PBC 和 OpenAI 展开竞争，这两家公司今年都推出了能够通过访问用户桌面来执行操作的 AI 助手。Microsoft 的策略在很大程度上依赖于其生态系统中的这种深度整合，以向企业客户提供独特的价值主张。

在商业化方面，Charles Lamanna 并未透露 Scout 的具体定价，但证实它最初将需要订阅 GitHub Copilot。计费可能将基于使用量，而不是固定订阅费，不过随著模型成本持续下降，Microsoft 最终希望将更多 AI 产品纳入订阅计划中，例如其名为「E7」的新软体组合。目前，只有极少数的 Microsoft 现有订阅用户为其旗舰 Copilot 助手支付额外费用。该公司正积极努力鼓励更多客户为其 AI 工具支付额外费用，以推动更高的变现。

Microsoft Corp. has launched "Scout," a new artificial intelligence assistant designed to operate autonomously like an always-active employee integrated into internal email and calendar systems. Announced at the Build developer conference in San Francisco, Scout distinguishes itself from single-user bots like ChatGPT and Microsoft's own Copilot by possessing its own shareable identity. Charles Lamanna, lead of product development for business applications and workplace AI, noted that Scout can handle tasks independently, such as coordinating schedule conflict resolution. This launch comes as Microsoft aims to demonstrate its state-of-the-art AI capabilities to customers and Wall Street, particularly after its stock lagged behind rivals like Amazon.com Inc. due to a slower-than-expected uptake of Copilot and increased competition in coding tools.

Technologically, Scout is built on OpenClaw, a platform that transforms ChatGPT and Claude models into always-on agents, which was internally referred to as Project Lobster. OpenClaw previously gained viral attention for executing complex desktop tasks, though it raised security concerns regarding cybersecurity vulnerabilities. By integrating this technology directly into its product suite, Microsoft is competing with Anthropic PBC and OpenAI, both of which have introduced AI assistants capable of executing actions via user desktops. Microsoft's strategy relies heavily on this deep integration across its ecosystem to provide a distinct value proposition to corporate clients.

Regarding commercialization, Charles Lamanna did not disclose specific pricing for Scout, but confirmed it will initially require a subscription to GitHub Copilot. Instead of a flat subscription fee, billing will likely be usage-based, though Microsoft eventually hopes to bundle more AI products into subscriptions, such as its new "E7" tier, as model costs decrease. Currently, only a small percentage of Microsoft's existing subscriber base pays the additional fees for its flagship Copilot assistant. The company is actively striving to encourage broader adoption of these paid AI tools to drive higher monetization.