Microsoft Developing New OpenClaw-Style Agent for Enterprise

The tech giant is working on a more secure version of the popular open-source automation tool.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:05pm by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic Microsoft 365 Copilot agent interface, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the various controls and functions, conceptually representing the company's efforts to develop a more secure and enterprise-ready AI assistant tool.Microsoft's new enterprise-focused AI agent aims to bring the power of OpenClaw-like automation to business users with enhanced security features.San Francisco Today

Microsoft is testing ways to integrate OpenClaw-like features into its existing Microsoft 365 Copilot tool, according to reports. The new agent would be geared towards enterprise customers and offer better security controls than the open-source OpenClaw project. This would join a growing number of agent-based tools Microsoft has introduced in recent months, including Copilot Cowork and Copilot Tasks.

Why it matters

OpenClaw has become a popular tool for automating tasks, but its open-source nature has raised security concerns, especially for enterprise use. Microsoft's move to develop its own version could provide a more secure alternative that still offers the benefits of a local agent-based automation tool.

The details

Microsoft confirmed to The Information that it is working on a new agent that would integrate OpenClaw-like features into its Copilot tool for enterprise customers. This agent would aim to provide the same task automation capabilities as OpenClaw but with enhanced security controls. The company has also previously introduced other agent-based tools like Copilot Cowork and Copilot Tasks, though those run in the cloud rather than locally on a user's machine.

  • In March 2026, Microsoft announced Copilot Cowork, which is designed to take actions in M365 apps.
  • In February 2026, Microsoft introduced Copilot Tasks, another agent-based tool released in preview.

The players

Microsoft

A multinational technology company that develops software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.

OpenClaw

An open-source tool that runs locally on a user's computer and can create agents to perform tasks on behalf of the person.

Anthropic

An AI research company that powers the Claude language model, which Microsoft has integrated into its Copilot Cowork tool.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Microsoft is expected to showcase its new OpenClaw-style agent or an upgraded version of its existing agent-based tools at its Microsoft Build conference in June 2026.

The takeaway

Microsoft's move to develop a more secure, enterprise-focused version of the OpenClaw automation tool highlights the growing demand for agent-based productivity tools that can operate locally while addressing security concerns. This could provide a compelling alternative to the open-source OpenClaw project for businesses looking to leverage task automation capabilities.