{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterpris","json":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterpris.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterpris.md","slug":"microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterpris","headline":"Microsoft adds Work IQ retrieval tool to ground AI agents in enterprise data","summary":"Microsoft introduced the Work IQ retrieval tool, part of its Model Context Protocol (MCP), to give AI agents access to authorized workplace information across Microsoft 365 and connected enterprise sources.\n\nThe tool searches email, documents, meetings, Teams messages and people, returning structured source records and model‑ready Markdown with inline citations. Metadata can include source URLs, resource types and sensitivity labels. It supports two search strategies: a default copilot strategy that searches Microsoft 365 content and supported external sources, and a grounding strategy that limits retrieval to indexed Microsoft 365 information. Developers can further restrict searches by source type using capability parameters, and retrieval remains subject to each user’s existing access permissions.\n\nMicrosoft positions the tool as an evolution of the Copilot Retrieval API, separating retrieval from agent‑delegation operations. The announcement was made in a developer blog post and reported by David Ramel of Converge 360.","keyPoints":["Work IQ retrieval tool lets AI agents access Microsoft 365 and connected enterprise data","Tool returns structured records and Markdown with inline citations","Two search strategies: default copilot and grounding limited to indexed Microsoft 365"],"whyItMatters":"The tool enables AI agents to pull accurate, permission‑aware data from corporate sources, improving enterprise productivity and data security.","category":{"slug":"agents","name":"Agents & Tools","url":"https://digestai.news/category/agents"},"entities":{"companies":["Microsoft"],"models":[],"people":["David Ramel"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-22T17:00:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-22T17:00:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"visualstudiomagazine.com","title":"Microsoft Adds Work IQ Retrieval Tool to Ground AI Agents in Enterprise Data","url":"https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2026/10/23/microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterprise-data.aspx","publishedAt":"2026-10-22T17:00:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Microsoft adds Work IQ retrieval tool to ground AI agents in enterprise data\", 22 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterpris","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Microsoft adds Work IQ retrieval tool to ground AI agents in enterprise data","datePublished":"2026-10-22T17:00:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-adds-work-iq-retrieval-tool-to-ground-ai-agents-in-enterpris"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}