Microsoft is rolling out a new Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) meter for Windows 365 for Agents.
The new PAYG meter relates to the Public Preview of Cloud PC pool for computer use and Windows 365 for Agents, a new category of Cloud PC designed specifically to support AI agent workloads. Rather than being assigned to individual users, these Cloud PCs are used by AI agents, such as those built in Copilot Studio or running within Microsoft 365 Copilot, to carry out automated tasks on behalf of users.
Windows 365 for Agents
Windows 365 for Agents provides agents with temporary access to a virtual Windows or Linux desktop hosted in the Microsoft Cloud. When an agent is given a task, it checks out a Cloud PC, completes the work, and then returns the resource to a shared pool ready for the next task. Compute resources are only consumed when actually needed, keeping usage efficient and costs predictable.
Several Microsoft 365 Copilot features are already powered by this platform.
- Cloud PC pools in Copilot Studio allow custom Copilot agents to automate web-based tasks from within a secure Cloud PC environment. The new “Windows 365 for Agents” PAYG meter will be required for this service.
- Project Opal uses the platform to orchestrate dynamic, task-based agent workflows. Learn more for admins and users.
- The Researcher agent uses a computer to perform multi-step website navigation and interaction on behalf of users, running on Linux-based Cloud PCs. Learn more for admins and users.
According to the documentation, the Windows 365 for Agents meter is billed at USD 0.40 per hour, calculated per task and rounded up to the next full hour. This pricing is separate from existing Windows 365 for Enterprise or Business plans and applies specifically to agent-driven usage. As this is a preview release, availability and pricing may change ahead of general availability.
Cloud PC pools in Copilot Studio
Microsoft provides Cloud PC pools as the underlying infrastructure for Copilot Studio agents who use the computer use tool. A Cloud PC pool is a scalable group of virtual machines hosted in the Microsoft Cloud, joined to Microsoft Entra ID and enrolled in Intune. This gives organizations full governance over the environment, ensuring compliance with their policies.
Agents using Cloud PC pools can access resources linked to the organization, such as Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, through work or school account integration. The pool scales automatically based on current workloads, and no physical machine setup is required.
To get started, tenants can create up to two Cloud PC pools using the Windows 365 for Agents billing plan (for trial cases only). Currently, each tenant receives 50 hours of free usage for published agents running autonomously.
- Cloud PC pools run on Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 with Microsoft Edge and use the Microsoft Hosted Network.
- Each environment supports up to five Cloud PC pools, with each pool scaling to a maximum of 10 Cloud PCs.
- The pools are hosted in the same geography as the Power Platform environment.
- Cloud PC pool uses the “Windows 365 for Agents” PAYG meter, which bills your Azure subscription.
Administrators must complete several prerequisites before Cloud PC pools can be provisioned.
