Microsoft is testing Copilot Actions, a set of experimental agentic features that can carry out everyday tasks—such as filing organization, meeting scheduling, and drafting emails—by acting as an active digital collaborator within Windows. The company says the tools are designed to boost productivity, but they require users to understand security implications before enabling them.
Security experts warn about two long-standing AI pitfalls, known to affect large language models: hallucinations, where the assistant outputs incorrect or illogical results, and prompt injections, where attackers embed malicious prompts in content that the model misreads. Together these flaws can lead to wrong decisions or unintended actions, underscoring why caution is advised for new features like Copilot Actions.
Some in the security community compare the warnings to decades‑old cautions about macros in Office apps — familiar, but still not fully preventing misuse. While macros remain common, critics argue that ease of use and integration into daily workflows can push users toward enabling powerful tools without fully understanding the risks.
Microsoft has positioned Copilot Actions as a beta feature that is off by default. It also notes that enterprise IT teams will have control: Copilot Actions can be managed at the account and device level through Microsoft Intune or other MDM solutions, enabling organizations to restrict who can turn the feature on and monitor its use.
Experts caution that even with admin controls, the line between helpful automation and security risk remains thin. Observers say the real test will be whether the feature can be improved with safeguards, clear prompts, and robust auditing before such capabilities become a broader default across Windows devices.
