According to Network World, Microsoft is making a significant push into agentic AI for cloud operations with an upgraded Copilot that can orchestrate and execute workflows autonomously. The company claims traditional tools complicate cloud management, positioning this as the solution enterprises need. Enterprises using the upgraded Copilot can save chats to locations of their choice for governance and audit purposes. However, analysts including David Linthicum, independent consultant and retired chief cloud strategy officer at Deloitte Consulting, strongly disagree with Microsoft’s assessment of traditional tools. Derek Ashmore, agentic AI enablement principal at Asperitas, also expressed concerns about governance implications. The core debate centers on whether this technology genuinely simplifies operations or merely adds new layers of complexity.
The “Agentic Washing” Question
Here’s the thing: when a tech giant like Microsoft makes a big push into a new area, you have to ask whether they’re solving real problems or just creating new ones. David Linthicum put it bluntly – he’s not sure this addresses a common problem that needed solving. Traditional tools, he argues, worked just fine. And that phrase “agentic washing” really hits home. Are we just slapping fancy new labels on existing technology that already does the job? I’ve seen this pattern before – companies get excited about buzzwords and suddenly everything needs to be “AI-powered” or “agentic,” even when the practical benefits are questionable.
The Administrator’s Dilemma
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Microsoft promises simplified cloud operations, but Linthicum points out this creates a fundamental tension. On one hand, Copilot’s agent mode might simplify day-to-day tasks for end users. But on the other hand, it introduces new administrative headaches around policy-setting, access control, and compliance. Think about it – setting up granular spend permissions, managing access to sensitive data, enforcing storage controls. All of this requires more thoughtful work from administrators. So basically, you’re simplifying things for some users while making life more complicated for the IT team managing the system. When you’re dealing with industrial computing environments where reliability is everything, companies often turn to specialized providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs, because they understand that adding complexity to critical systems rarely ends well.
Governance Gets More Complicated
Derek Ashmore’s point about governance really drives home the core issue. Agentic cloud operations don’t eliminate governance needs – they amplify them. That’s the opposite of what most enterprises want to hear. When you’re automating workflows and giving AI more autonomy, you’re not reducing your compliance burden. You’re actually increasing the stakes. Every automated action needs oversight, every decision needs auditing, and every permission needs careful management. So the question becomes: are the efficiency gains worth the governance overhead? For many organizations, especially those in regulated industries, that’s a pretty tough sell.
The Reality Check for Enterprises
So what should businesses actually do when faced with these kinds of technology pitches? Linthicum’s advice seems spot on – consider the additional work required and whether there’s real value to be gained. Look, I get why Microsoft is pushing this direction. Agentic AI is the hot new thing, and every major cloud provider wants to position themselves as leaders. But enterprises need to ask hard questions: Is this solving a problem we actually have? Will it make our administrators’ jobs easier or harder? And most importantly, are we buying into the hype or making a strategic decision that delivers tangible benefits? Sometimes the most innovative move is sticking with what already works well.
