For most businesses, Copilot has so far been used as a writing and summarising tool. Drafting emails, pulling together notes, or giving a quick summary of a document. That’s starting to change. Microsoft announced in June that Copilot Cowork is now generally available, describing it as a way for Copilot to carry out longer, multi-step tasks rather than just respond to prompts. In simple terms, it moves from “help me write this” to “help me get this piece of work done”. For a recruitment business, that could mean:
- Pulling together a client briefing from multiple documents
- Summarising a set of candidate notes
- Organising follow-ups from emails and Teams messages
- Preparing a first draft of a job spec or shortlist summary
That’s useful — but it also raises a more important question: Is your Microsoft 365 environment ready for that level of access and automation?
What has actually changed
- Released: Copilot Cowork is now available to Microsoft 365 Copilot users
- Emerging controls: Microsoft is introducing more governance options, such as restricting what Copilot can use (for example, external email in some scenarios)
- Guidance: The UK’s NCSC advises organisations to start small with AI, using low-risk tasks and keeping clear human oversight
So the direction is clear: AI is becoming more capable, but Microsoft and regulators are both emphasising control and accountability.
What recruitment firms should check first
1. Who can access what Copilot uses the same permissions your team already has. If someone can open a folder, Copilot can use that content. That’s fine — as long as access is sensible. In many recruitment firms, shared folders build up over time. Old client documents, candidate data, internal files. Before expanding AI use, it’s worth asking:
- Are access permissions still appropriate?
- Are there folders everyone can see that they probably shouldn’t?
This is one of the most important checks you can make. 2. Where AI should and shouldn’t be used Not every task carries the same risk. Low-risk examples:
- Drafting internal notes
- Creating templates
- Summarising general information
Higher-risk examples:
- Candidate summaries
- Client advice
- Salary or contractual discussions
The NCSC’s advice is practical here: start with low-risk use cases and expand gradually. 3. How external email is handled Recruitment inboxes are full of external content — CVs, client emails, job alerts. Microsoft is introducing controls (currently in preview) that allow organisations to limit whether Copilot can use external emails as part of its responses. You don’t need to implement everything immediately, but it’s worth being aware that these controls exist — and will become more relevant over time. 4. Who is responsible for AI use Copilot isn’t just a licence decision. Someone in the business needs to take ownership of:
- Where it’s used
- How it’s used
- Any limits or guidance
That’s often an operations or leadership responsibility, not just IT.
Practical takeaway
Copilot is becoming more useful — but also more dependent on how your Microsoft 365 environment is set up. Before rolling it out more widely, focus on:
- Permissions
- Sensible use cases
- Basic governance
Get those right, and AI becomes genuinely helpful rather than unpredictable.