Microsoft announced Scout at Build 2026, a new always-on autonomous agent categorized as an 'Autopilot' — capable of acting on a user's behalf without being prompted each time. Scout is built on OpenClaw, an open-source agent framework, and integrates with Work IQ to access Microsoft 365 data. It can execute privileged local operations including file I/O, shell scripts, browser automation, and sub-agent orchestration, with MCP server support for extensibility. Security is a central concern given OpenClaw's known vulnerabilities; Microsoft addresses this by assigning each Scout instance a governed Entra identity, scoped credentials, Purview/DLP policy enforcement, and human sign-off for sensitive operations. Access requires enrollment in the Frontier preview program, an Intune-deployed desktop app, and a GitHub Copilot Business or Enterprise license.
