Data, Memory, Inference: The Three Layers of Work IQ
Thursday, August 6, 2026 · Maximilian Kenfenheuer
#Microsoft365Copilot #MicrosoftAI #Copilot #AI #EnterpriseAI #CopilotStudio
An excellent model with thin enterprise context still produces generic output. The advantage lies with the platform that provides context.
Work IQ builds this context in three layers: data from Microsoft 365 and business systems, memory about how teams work, and inference for reasoning and action. Microsoft offers it via REST, agent-to-agent and a remote MCP server, on a consumption basis and independent of Copilot licensing.
In this article, I explain why this context infrastructure may become more durable than any assistant interface.
Chat, Context, Tools, Workspaces: The Four Domains of the Work IQ APIs
Sunday, July 26, 2026 · Maximilian Kenfenheuer
#Microsoft365Copilot #MicrosoftAI #AI #EnterpriseAI #CopilotStudio
The new Work IQ APIs look like a developer release. In practice, they show how Microsoft wants to scale enterprise agents: with a runtime that supplies context, tools and persistent state inside the Microsoft 365 tenant.
The API surface covers four domains: Chat, Context, Tools and Workspaces. Billing runs on Copilot Credits with spending limits for admins.
In this article, I walk through the four domains and explain what they mean for developers, partners and IT leaders.
Work IQ: An Intelligence Layer That Understands How Work Gets Done
Sunday, July 26, 2026 · Maximilian Kenfenheuer
#Microsoft365Copilot #MicrosoftAI #CopilotStudio #EnterpriseAI #AITransformation
With the June updates, Microsoft introduced Work IQ as a named intelligence layer for Microsoft 365 and exposes it through APIs. Billing runs via Copilot Credits, without a separate license.
Work IQ aims to show agents who is involved in a task, which files and meetings matter and which decisions are still open. Custom agents, partner solutions and Copilot Studio can use the same layer.
In this article, I explain why this work-aware layer may become harder to replace than any single model or assistant.