Microsoft AI Tour London | The agentic AI era has arrived

More than 4,500 customers, partners, analysts and journalists gathered at London’s ExCel centre for the latest and largest leg of Microsoft’s global AI Tour on Wednesday 5 March.

In his opening keynote speech, Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK (pictured above), outlined how AI and cloud technologies could create a half-a-trillion pound opportunity for the UK economy in the coming decade.

“There is clear and urgent demand for AI in its many forms,” he said, with organisations across all sectors embracing AI’s ability to help them innovate faster, optimise processes, and remove the “digital drudgery” that stops people “doing more of the work we love”.

The UK is leading the way in AI, he said, with its thriving start-up culture, rich heritage of technological innovation, and government commitment to AI-powered growth laid out in its AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Wide shot of huge audience at the Microsoft AI Tour London event 5 March 2025 — More than 4,500 customers and partners attended the Microsoft AI Tour London event

Hardman cited several examples of leading UK organisations using Generative AI and AI agents to improve productivity, customer service, and quality of life for their employees.

There had been an “explosion” in the use of “agentic AI” over the last six months, he said. These task-specific AI agents, which are easy to build using Microsoft’s no- or low-code tools, “offer limitless potential for all sectors and industries in this AI economy”, he explained.

Citing a Microsoft report – Agents of Change – published earlier in the day, Hardman highlighted that nearly three quarters of UK business leaders already expected to integrate AI agents across their operations, and that agents would deliver “significant value”.

Dr Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation, Goldsmiths, University of London, presents the Agents of Change report at the AI Tour London 5 March 2025 — Dr Chris Brauer, Goldsmiths, University of London, presents the Agents of Change report

And he told the packed conference hall that Microsoft was investing substantially in datacentre infrastructure in the UK to power this AI revolution, and investing in free digital skills programmes to ensure everyone could benefit from this “once-in-a-generation inflection point.”

‘Human ambition’

In his keynote speech, Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, gave the audience “a framework for success” – a detailed blueprint for organisations to follow that would help them implement AI effectively and securely.

Judson Althoff, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, Microsoft, delivering keynote speech at AI Tour London 5 March 2025 — Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, gave the audience a “framework for success” in the era of agentic AI

And he announced the launch of two new pre-built Microsoft agents – Sales Agent and Sales Chat – designed to help businesses automate sales processes and manage customer relationships more effectively and efficiently.

“Agents and Copilot coming together with human ambition is a powerful combination,” he said, leading to decreased time to market and accelerated innovation for businesses.

There were on-stage demonstrations of how to build an AI agent easily and quickly using natural language in Copilot Studio, and to do so securely and in a compliant way.

Althoff encouraged the audience to “push Copilot to its extremes – make it work for your business”, while emphasising the full suite of products and services Microsoft could offer organisations, from GitHub Copilot to Azure AI Foundry, whatever stage they were at on their AI transformation journeys.

Customers in conversation with Althoff on-stage shared AI and agents were helping them to be more productive, innovative and responsive to customer needs.

‘Delivering real change’

Away from the main-stage speeches there were hands-on workshops showing the thousands of attendees how to build their own AI agents using Copilot Studio, for example, or how to learn the art of prompting.

There were lots of break-out sessions, workshops and round-table discussion at the event

And there were round-table discussions on the best way for organisations to roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot, for example, with customers sharing their experiences and best practice. Other topics included how to develop an effective data strategy; how to use AI to improve accounting, procurement and compliance functions; and how to promote greater diversity within technology roles.

Microsoft partners were also on hand in one of the main halls to answer attendee questions and explain how they could help with AI adoption and use.

“We’ve had a wide range of conversations,” said Stuart Wright from IT consultancy Capgemini, “from people wanting to know how to use Microsoft 365 Copilot to increase accessibility and help neurodiverse people within their organisations, to parcel delivery companies wanting to know how AI could help them improve their routing.

“As a Microsoft partner, we have to be ready to help people whatever their IT needs are and wherever they are on their AI transformation journeys.”

Maggie Milner, Bytes Technology Group, says she was “surprised” to hear how far many businesses have come on their AI transformation journeys

Maggie Milner from Bytes Technology Group, said: “It’s been really interesting hearing how far along some customers are on their AI journey actually”, while PwC’s Sam Calvert said she had a real sense that organisations were rapidly moving from “discovering what’s possible with AI, to implementing and delivering real change”.

The day was packed full of activities, networking, hands-on learning and collaboration that generated a palpable buzz of optimism and excitement around the huge conference centre.

As Hardman said in closing: “Together, we will chart a path where AI powers economic growth across the UK – and in a way in which businesses can truly flourish.”