The Real Cost of Agentic AI – Microsoft Copilot Licensing Direction

On Wednesday, July 30th, I will be joining Alexander Golev from SAMexpert to talk about the biggest questions in the world of Microsoft software licensing today. I’m of course referring to AI, and especially the agentic scenarios where Microsoft Copilot Studio is used as the platform.

The topics we’ll cover in this 1h session include:

From Per-Seat to Pay-As-You-Go. Consumption based licensing is becoming the norm as SaaS apps are doomed to "collapse".

Agent Flows vs. Cloud Flows. Sometimes the true difference between process automation vs. "agents" is the move to an even more complex licensing model

The Cost Estimation Conundrum. Even when Microsoft publishes cost calculators, that rarerly gives the answers to what agentic AI would actually cost to run.

Per-Agent Licensing. If digital employees are really coming, will their Microsoft licensing package eventually resemble those of human employees?

AI Feature Gating. There is no one Copilot, regardless of what Microsoft claims. Licensing barriers of in-product AI features can cause surprises.

Internal Inertia at Microsoft. Adding new AI layers on top of existing offering doesn't threaten past products, but ultimately something's got to make way for the agentic dreams to become real.

Adoption Metrics vs. Reality. There is little direct revenue in AI services so far, leading Microsoft to exaggerate active user metrics. What signals do we have about Copilot success from beyond MS?

Join us for the live session at 4pm CEST on Wednesday, July 30th, by signing up for the LinkedIn event or YouTube event.

SAMexpert is a global, independent consulting firm specializing in Microsoft vendor management. Their focus spans strategy, cost optimization, compliance, and audit defense—delivered with complete neutrality, as they do not resell Microsoft licenses or services.

Alexander Golev, founder and senior partner at SAMexpert, is a seasoned entrepreneur and industry thought leader with deep roots in Microsoft technologies since 1994 and Software Asset Management since 2003. His practical insights and candid commentary have made SAMexpert a trusted voice in navigating the complexities of Microsoft licensing.