Introduction
An agent becomes more useful when it can use approved information, retrieve current data, and follow reusable task guidance. In Microsoft Copilot Studio, these capabilities come from different building blocks. Choosing the right building block helps the agent complete its task without adding unnecessary complexity.
Grounding means connecting an agent's response to information from an approved source instead of relying only on the model's general knowledge. A tool lets an agent retrieve current data or perform an action. A skill gives the agent reusable instructions for completing a specific kind of task.
In this module, you learn how to:
- Distinguish knowledge, tools, and skills.
- Choose between connector, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and workflow tools.
- Add file, website, SharePoint, or Dataverse knowledge.
- Validate grounding and citations.
- Configure an existing connector tool and its inputs.
- Connect an agent to an existing MCP server.
- Add a supplied skill and refine when it activates.
- Test tools and improve an agent after observing incomplete or incorrect behavior.
The module uses agents powered by the GitHub Copilot harness. It focuses on configuring existing knowledge sources, tools, and skills in Copilot Studio. Connecting, authenticating, and troubleshooting custom MCP servers requires advanced integration skills and isn't part of the hands-on exercise.