Question 1

What is an AI Colleague and how is it different from a chatbot?

Accepted Answer

An AI Colleague is a proactive, context-aware autonomous agent that can independently execute multi-step tasks – it accesses your systems, makes decisions and acts. Chatbots only respond to direct queries; AI Colleagues initiate, coordinate and escalate autonomously.

Question 2

Which four approaches does CNEXT use to build AI agents?

Accepted Answer

We build with four complementary technologies: (1) Microsoft Copilot Studio for low-code agents inside Microsoft 365, (2) Foundry Agent Service on Azure AI Foundry for complex multi-agent workflows, (3) Custom Full-Stack agents for proprietary logic and deep system integration, (4) OpenClaw – our open-source framework for self-hosted, transparent agents with maximum data sovereignty. We recommend the right approach based on complexity, integration depth, governance and sovereignty needs.

Question 3

What is OpenClaw and when does it make sense?

Accepted Answer

OpenClaw is our open-source framework for autonomous, self-hosted AI agents – messaging-first across Teams, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack and email. OpenClaw is the right choice when you need maximum data sovereignty, full code transparency or zero cloud dependency – typical for regulated industries (fiduciaries, healthcare, energy, finance) and organisations that want to avoid vendor lock-in.

Question 4

How is my company data kept secure?

Accepted Answer

We build on Microsoft Azure and Copilot Studio with Swiss or EU data residency. All implementations strictly follow Swiss DPA (nDSG) and GDPR. No training of AI models with your data. Full audit logging and access control via Microsoft Entra ID. For maximum sovereignty, OpenClaw runs entirely on your own infrastructure.

Question 5

How long until an AI Colleague is ready to deploy?

Accepted Answer

A first prototype is typically ready in 1–2 weeks. A production-ready AI Colleague with full system integration is deployable in 4–8 weeks. Complex multi-agent systems we plan for 10–16 weeks.