Windows 11 brings AI agents integration to the Taskbar

Microsoft continues its Windows 11 transformation for an agentic OS with the unveiling of AI agents in the Taskbar.
The agents will appear as running in the apps in the Taskbar, and you’ll be able to view progress and take actions.

Microsoft is working to bring AI agents directly into the Taskbar for Windows 11, marking one of the biggest steps yet in the company’s push toward what it calls an “agentic OS.” The new capability will allow AI agents to appear as Taskbar icons, provide glanceable updates, and run tasks in a secure workspace in the background.

The upcoming feature integrates AI agents directly into the Taskbar as interactive app-like icons. When an agent is running, it will appear beside your regular apps, offering real-time updates through badges and hover previews. A green checkmark indicates a completed task, while a yellow alert signals that the agent needs additional input.

Taskbar with AI agent / Image: Microsoft

At the center of the experience is the new Ask Copilot search box. This replaces the previous search interface and now lets you summon agents instantly by typing @ to invoke them, assign tasks, or reference contextual information.

Agents are designed to handle actions such as researching data, searching files, automating administrative steps, or performing multi-step workflows inside their own controlled workspace. This allows the agent to interact with apps and files without interrupting the user.

Microsoft says the goal is to make AI “as easy to use and as common as applications on Windows.” The company sees AI agents as tools that can take on work users don’t want to do, freeing them to focus on more important tasks. The Taskbar integration is intended to make AI more visible, interactive, and effortless to engage with, instead of being locked inside a single app.

The company’s broader strategy is to evolve the operating system into an “agentic OS” where AI acts on behalf of the user in a trusted, secure way. Integrating agents into everyday surfaces, such as the Taskbar and File Explorer, is a key part of that transition.

Agents can be invoked manually through the Ask Copilot box, via a tools button, or by typing @ to reference an agent. Once a task is assigned, the agent moves to the Taskbar and continues working in the background. Hovering over the icon shows progress updates, and notifications appear when the agent needs input or finishes a job.

Taskbar with Copilot search / Image: Microsoft

The underlying platform relies on Microsoft’s Model Context Protocol, a framework that allows agents to discover tools, interact with apps, and collaborate with other agents through a managed on-device registry. This gives developers a standardized way to integrate AI automation into the operating system.

Microsoft says the Taskbar integration with AI is optional, giving users full control over when to enable AI agents. The company has also created the agentic workspace to isolate AI activity from the main desktop session. However, even with these controls, the company warns that enabling agentic features may introduce security risks, including cross-prompt injection attacks that can trick an AI agent into performing unintended actions.

This Taskbar upgrade is part of a larger AI overhaul. Microsoft is also bringing Copilot into File Explorer for document summaries, one-click assistance, and contextual insights. New writing tools, hybrid cloud and local AI processing, and improvements like Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs further demonstrate the company’s shift toward deeply integrated AI.

What are your thoughts on the Taskbar getting AI integration? Let me know in the comments.