Democratized Data: Using AI Agents to Empower Business Users
An Agentic Azure Databricks Genie
Accessing data used to mean wrestling with BI tools, submitting service tickets, or decoding complex dashboards. Business users were often stuck waiting at the “data help desk,” slowing down decision-making and innovation.
But with AI agents, Copilot Studio, and the Azure Databricks Genie, we’ve flipped that script—putting data directly into the hands of business users through simple, natural conversations.
From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs: Empowering Business Users with AI
Imagine your team exploring rich datasets in Azure Databricks using everyday language—no SQL, no dashboard drilling—just a conversation.
That’s the experience we designed with our Copilot Studio Agent, and it’s already transforming how business users engage with data. This post kicks off our AI Agentics Insights series, where we spotlight tools and innovations that make data more accessible and actionable for everyone.
🤖 What Are AI Agentics—and Why Do They Matter?
AI Agentics aren’t just chatbots—they’re intelligent, context-aware assistants that reason, respond, and adapt. Think of them as the next-gen data analyst: always available, lightning-fast, and never burned out by spreadsheets.
Key Capabilities:
Benefits to Your Organization:
🧞♂️ Meet the Azure Databricks Genie Agent
We built a seamless integration in Copilot Studio that enables a natural language interface to Azure Databricks via the Genie API. Users can interact directly within Microsoft Teams, making it easier than ever to get insights where they’re already collaborating.
With the Genie Agent, users can:
We started with a prototype and quickly scaled it into a production-ready solution. The Genie Agent interprets intent, queries Databricks securely, and delivers contextual answers—instantly.
We’re releasing a sample AI Agent on GitHub today that you can tailor to your own Azure Databricks Genie environment and surface directly in Microsoft Teams.
Imagine typing:
🗣 “What are our top five products by revenue?”
… and getting a clear, actionable answer in seconds—no tickets, no dashboards, just results.
🚀 The Copilot Studio Agent: A Productivity Multiplier
Our custom agent in Copilot Studio transforms the user experience by enabling natural language access to data—directly in Teams.
How It Enhances Productivity:
By reducing friction in the data discovery process, the agent acts as a force multiplier for both business users and data teams.
🔒 AI Content Safety: Responsible Intelligence at Scale
Deploying AI in the enterprise means building responsibly. That’s why AI Content Safety is built into every agent we develop in Copilot Studio. Key features include:
Best of all, these safeguards require minimal configuration—keeping deployments simple and compliant.
📣 Closing Thoughts: Inclusive Data Access for All
Say goodbye to the “data elite.” With the Azure Databricks Genie Agent, anyone—from finance teams to frontline managers—can access insights using natural conversation.
✅ No dashboards
✅ No tickets
✅ No SQL
✅ Just… answers
📣 Accelerate to a Solution
Download the Copilot Studio Solution and steps to start today:
GitHub Solution: Download
👥 About the Authors
Melissa Lacefield is a Principal Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, leading global digital transformation through enterprise-scale AI and data solutions on Azure. With a Ph.D. in Cybersecurity and advanced degrees in MIS, she brings deep technical expertise in AI-driven security and intelligent cloud architecture. Melissa designs complex, cost-optimized solutions that solve critical business challenges and enhance operational resilience. Her work empowers organizations to modernize securely, unlock data-driven insights, and drive measurable impact through AI.
Valter Herman is a Senior Technical Specialist at Microsoft, focused on intelligent low-code experiences, guiding teams through business value realization, architecture and integration puzzles. He’s a hands-on problem-solver with a passion for building smart, scalable workload in tools like Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry.
To everyone who contributed ideas, feedback, or encouragement—thank you. This solution is stronger because of you. Special thanks to Josh Hays & Johnny Harbieh.