Ignite 2025: Microsoft enterprise customers share real-world copilot and AI agent initiatives

At Ignite 2025, Microsoft CVP Srini Raghavan convened a panel to discuss real world strategies for AI agent transformation. 

“How do you make agents real and cut through the hype?" he asked attendees. "[Today we’re going to] share frameworks and tips and tricks." 

Raghavasan noted an IDC prediction that there will be 1.3 billion AI agents in service in the near future. “That’s one India or one China out in the world. How do you manage that? What is the energy consumption of an ordinary human: it’s about 58 kwh. [By comparison it's] 0.3 kw for an AI agent,” Raghavasan said.

Mona Riemenschneider, head of global communications for BASF, explained that their deployment of 37,000 agents has aligned with broader goals. “AI and AI enablement is a key part of [overall] enablement. It’s a key strategic driver. [We’ve had a] two-fold, big rollout of our Copilot license and are looking into customized agent technology. We have over 1,000 agents in place [developed with] AI Foundry and Copilot Studio. [We have a writing assistant] helping our colleagues to create personalized, on-brand social media posts,” she explained.

For its part, EY is using 41,000 copilot agents for its tax service. It draws on information from 21 million documents. “We’ve been aggressively pushing the envelope on what AI can do. Changing the business…to provide additional value. We think this is going to change everything with our work…This technology is an incredible democratizing agent,” said John Whittaker, director for AI platform and product at EY.