02 · Product · Microsoft

Microsoft Scout

Microsoft Scout is an AI desktop assistant that connects workplace data, tools and executable workflows in a conversational experience.

The design brings together suggested tasks, conversations, extensions and settings, giving people ways to move from a request to a response and guide what happens next. As lead product designer and a hands-on contributor, I worked on interactive Work IQ Memory experiences, navigation and interaction states, then explored those ideas through runnable prototypes and direct contributions to the product code.

Company: Microsoft
Role: Lead product designer & hands-on code / prototype contributor
When: 2026 · ~6 months
Disciplines: AI assistant, Interaction design, Prototyping, Code

The problem

Connecting an assistant to workplace data and tools is only part of the experience. People also need a useful starting point, a way to guide the next step and a place to manage the assistant's capabilities.

What I owned

Interactive Work IQ Memory experiences
Navigation and interaction states
Runnable prototypes
Direct product-code contributions

How I built it

Working prototypes and merged repository contributions via pull requests.

A starting point, not just a prompt

Scout pairs the message composer with suggested tasks, rather than relying on an empty input alone. Navigation gives conversations, automations and extensions a place of their own, while settings bring model, capability and application preferences together.

Keep the next step in the conversation

The conversation view keeps the request, response and follow-up composer together so people can guide what happens next. In a narrow window, navigation condenses into an icon rail while the conversation remains in view.

The gallery shows this interaction across light, dark, high-contrast and mobile views. The screenshots use ClawPilot branding. These are interface examples; the interactive Work IQ Memory contributions are described here but are not pictured.

Evidence in prototypes and code

I explored navigation, interaction states and Work IQ Memory through runnable prototypes and direct product-code contributions. Merged pull requests demonstrate implementation work; the material here does not establish adoption or task-success results.

Scout home in light mode, with navigation, suggested tasks and the message composer. — Home. Suggested tasks and a message composer provide a starting point, with navigation to conversations, automations and extensions.

Scout home in dark mode. — Dark mode. The same home experience in a dark theme.

Scout conversation with a request to draft a work anniversary message and the assistant's response. — Conversation. A request, the assistant's response and a composer for guiding the next step.

Scout extensions screen showing available skills and their controls. — Extensions. Skills are presented as cards with descriptions and controls for managing them.

Scout settings screen with model, capability and application preferences. — Settings. Model, capability and application preferences in one scrollable view.

Scout home in a high contrast theme with outlined controls. — High contrast. The home experience with outlined controls and a high contrast palette.

Scout conversation in a narrow window with compact icon navigation. — Narrow window. Navigation condenses to an icon rail while the conversation remains in view.

Scout mobile conversation with a shared presentation and a message composer. — Mobile. A conversation with shared content and follow-up messages.