From email overload to endless meetings, AI can help you reclaim your time and creativity
Digital debt is dragging down productivity in workplaces the world over, and many of us are unaware of the extent to which it is affecting our work. But we are all very familiar with the hallmarks of digital debt – email inboxes full to bursting, and seemingly endless meetings and notifications. Microsoft research found that only half of digital debt consumed by employees is necessary for their job.
Not only does digital debt affect productivity, it also robs us of the time we should be spending on leading, challenging, being curious – everything that takes us from being good workers to great ones. We all need time to innovate but right now, we’re being held back by the deluge of information from multiple channels. This ultimately affects profitability.
Businesses are starting to hear conversations about how AI can help them address these pain points yet many aren’t sure how to capitalise on it. They know there are advantages but they’re also aware of the risks involved in choosing the wrong approach.
Already, many employees are using AI tools in isolation, and without solid policies in place. If companies are too cautious and wait to deploy AI solutions, they could risk being left behind by their competitors. Yet they could also see sensitive corporate data falling into the wrong hands if AI is not used responsibly.
A new superpower enters the cockpit
Key to addressing that delicate balance is a powerful AI solution that gives companies the upper hand while keeping data secure. Copilot for Microsoft 365 meets this need. The AI powered tool helps employees take charge of their work day and be the boss of their time and productivity.
Copilot integrates generative AI across its suite of applications and latest product range – weaving it into the entire Microsoft experience. At an industry level, Copilot brings AI to apps like Teams, Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint. Its winning formula is that you can ask for what you want in natural language and the technology is smart enough to answer, create it or take action.
In a work context, Copilot is a game changer because it can automate mundane tasks and simplify complex information. It’s a complete reimagining of how people can relate to technology and enable it to work for us, not against us.
If digital debt is a problem, Copilot is a helpful tool in your arsenal. You can combine powerful large language models with your work content and context to take on any task. That means you can use AI to work differently – smarter, even – and get things done faster, and efficiently.
Let’s take meetings for example. In many workplaces, we have a lot of them. But how do you gain value from them, particularly when you have a diary full of them – each with large amounts of information to consume?
Copilot enables you to be more engaged with the meetings you attend by transcribing and summarising the meeting and follow up actions. It is able to facilitate meetings, draft agenda items, highlight disagreements that need to be resolved, and flag outstanding agenda items. And if you’re not able to attend a meeting at all, you can be brought up to speed. Now, you can meet with purpose and ensure every base is covered once the meeting is over. It’s not just meetings that Copilot can summarise. Long email threads can be made more digestible, while the assistant can also quickly draft suggested replies.
Then there’s creative endeavours. Copilot can strengthen your writing by drafting, editing, and summarising right alongside you.
The context of your business
If businesses are unprepared and hesitant about rolling out AI, the best place to start is by transforming workflows through the apps they already use and with protection they already trust.
Because Copilot is built on the apps you already use, it comes with the benefit of being contextually aware of your business and the tasks you want to carry out. At the same time, data is protected by the most comprehensive enterprise compliance and security controls. Copilot inherits the security, compliance, and privacy policies you’ve set up in Microsoft 365. From day one, your settings can be configured to match the existing requirements of the business and, as such, you can take advantage of the benefits of AI while maintaining the highest levels of data privacy.
AI in action
All this is how AI is supposed to function but how does it work in practice, in real business settings? A survey of early Copilot users found that they were 29% faster overall when completing three tasks (searching, writing and summarising). They were also 27% faster when pulling together information from multiple sources. And perhaps the most telling statistic is that 77% didn’t want to give up the tool having tried it. Even after using the tool for a short period of time, users already found it indispensable and easy to incorporate into their existing workflow.
People are already seeing the value of transforming their work with AI, and the numbers will only grow as more companies use Copilot.
Overcoming digital debt is imperative for workplaces aiming to enhance productivity and efficiency. The proliferation of digital information and tasks often inundates employees, hindering their ability to innovate and excel. AI is now a powerful tool in the hands of workers that can streamline workflows, automate tasks, and improve collaboration.
As businesses navigate the complexities of digital transformation, Copilot enables organisations to harness the full potential of AI while mitigating risks. With its proven efficacy and user satisfaction, Copilot promises to be a transformative force in the ongoing quest to overcome digital debt and unlock new levels of productivity in the modern workplace. Work is changing. Let’s embrace those changes and make best use of the tools that redefine how businesses and individuals approach work.
