Here’s a summary and analysis of the article “Can Copilot Automate Your Workflow? My Frustrating Test Drive” from HackerNoon:
Reference: HackerNoon article
Would you like a more detailed breakdown, advice for similar automation, or a comparison with other AI workflow tools?
Source: HackerNoon Can Copilot Automate Your Workflow? My Frustrating Test Drive | HackerNoon
Main Points
- The test goal: The author tried Microsoft Copilot’s new “Agents” feature to automate a simple workflow: scan a OneDrive folder, generate multiple synopses of Word files, and upload them to a subfolder.
- User Experience Issues:
- The Copilot wizard was unclear; the “first” button simply echoed the user’s instructions into chat, requiring a separate manual “Send” click to actually start.
- After starting, Copilot gave no feedback or progress updates for over 10 minutes.
- When results were finally returned, the supposed uploaded results led to an empty folder.
- Copilot claimed ongoing technical problems (“trouble accessing your OneDrive”), forcing the user to manually re-upload files for processing.
- Even then, synopses were produced in markdown, requiring the user to paste/convert content into Word.
- There were session limits (hit after 15 “turns”) that cut off the workflow before completion.
- Storytelling Use Case: Copilot excelled as a brainstorming assistant for a story, but failed to deliver a final draft without further user intervention to restart the session and extract the text manually.
Pain Points Recap
- Manual start: The UI was confusing—it required a manual “Send” after initial setup.
- Workflow delays: There was no progress feedback; tasks could stall for 10+ minutes.
- Broken links: Links to results led to empty folders.
- File access failures: Copilot struggled and required manual file uploads.
- Output in wrong format: Markdown output had to be pasted and formatted in Word.
- Session limits: Sessions cut off the workflow before completion.
Bottom Line
- Potential: Copilot Agents have potential for useful automation, and the creative writing session showed AI’s value in idea generation.
- Current status: The user experience is currently poor—confusing, with unreliable automation, buggy file handling, hidden steps, and unfriendly session limits.
- Beta stage warnings: The tools are still in beta and need:
- More intuitive workflows (no hidden “Send” step)
- Better error handling
- Seamless integration with OneDrive and Office formats
Conclusion
Copilot Agents could transform productivity in the future, but are presently a source of frustration rather than a frictionless AI workflow tool. Real-world user feedback and continued development are essential for these growing pains to be resolved.Reference: HackerNoon article
Would you like a more detailed breakdown, advice for similar automation, or a comparison with other AI workflow tools?
Source: HackerNoon Can Copilot Automate Your Workflow? My Frustrating Test Drive | HackerNoon
