A UK government study evaluating the Microsoft 365 Copilot pilot revealed neurodiverse employees reported higher satisfaction with the AI assistant than their neurotypical peers, even as overall satisfaction reached 72%.
“It’s leveled the playing field,” said a participant with ADHD during follow-up interviews. Another dyslexic participant noted that Copilot empowered them to complete tasks with confidence, particularly in report writing. A fellow dyslexic user added that Copilot does a lot more than traditional assistive technology while being embedded in their applications rather than requiring separate programs.
The benefits extended beyond neurodiversity: participants with hearing disabilities cited AI-powered meeting transcripts as enabling fuller participation in discussions, with one noting they could recall inputs quickly instead of sitting quietly while trying to catch points.
The study, titled “The Evaluation of the M365 Copilot Pilot in the Department for Business and Trade,” ran from October 2024 to March 2025, using diary studies, interviews, and task observation to measure Copilot’s impact across user groups. Of 1,000 licenses issued, 300 participants consented to analysis; while satisfaction was supported at a 90% confidence level, the study found a stronger signal for likelihood to recommend at 95% confidence.
Researchers say the findings point to AI tools addressing workplace accessibility gaps that traditional accommodations may miss, suggesting further trials and careful interpretation before generalizing the results to other workplaces.
