An AI Copilot is an AI assistant integrated directly into software tools that augments human work by providing real-time suggestions, automating repetitive tasks, and generating content or code. The term was popularized by GitHub Copilot and Microsoft Copilot, but now describes a broad category of embedded AI assistants.
Major enterprise AI copilots include: Microsoft 365 Copilot (integrated across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams), GitHub Copilot (AI-assisted code generation), Google Duet AI (embedded in Google Workspace), Salesforce Einstein Copilot (CRM-specific AI assistance), and numerous vertical-specific copilots in legal, financial, and healthcare software.
Enterprise security and governance concerns with AI copilots include: data access scope (copilots often have access to vast amounts of organizational data), over-permissioned access (copilots may surface information users shouldn't see due to loose permissions), data leakage through copilot interactions, accuracy and reliability of copilot outputs, dependency risks (over-reliance on AI suggestions), licensing and cost management, and the challenge of monitoring copilot usage at scale.
Organizations deploying AI copilots should conduct access reviews to ensure proper data permissions, implement usage policies specific to copilot tools, monitor copilot interactions for policy compliance, and train employees on effective and safe copilot usage.
