Microsoft Copilot Gets Official Rollout in U.S. House After AI Ban Reversal

The U.S. House of Representatives just flipped the switch on something it once banned: Microsoft’s Copilot is officially being rolled out to staffers.

After months of security debates, lawmakers are moving forward with a year-long pilot program that gives thousands of staff access to Microsoft 365 Copilot — tightly integrated with Outlook, OneDrive, and daily workflows. A lighter version, Copilot Chat, will also be available more broadly, this time wrapped in “heightened legal and data protections.”

Why this matters: For Congress, this isn’t just another software upgrade. It’s a shift in how the legislative branch approaches work itself — drafting legislation, summarizing long reports, and automating repetitive tasks could all get faster. If the House proves it can safely adopt AI without risking sensitive data, it could set the template for how governments worldwide bring generative AI into the halls of power.

But the risks are very real. Copilot is still prone to errors (hallucinations don’t magically disappear because you’re in government), and the initial ban was all about data leakage — so all eyes will be on whether Microsoft’s “government-grade” protections hold up under pressure. If they don’t, the political backlash will be swift.

The big picture: Congress is under pressure to regulate AI, but it’s also testing the same tools it’s meant to oversee. That creates a paradox: the people writing the AI rules are now the ones using the tech in their inboxes and committee reports. If it works, we may see the Senate, federal agencies, and even state governments follow suit. If it doesn’t, it’ll become another cautionary tale about rushing AI into sensitive environments.

For now, the U.S. House is essentially beta-testing how AI fits into governance. And given what’s at stake, this pilot program might turn out to be one of the most consequential Copilot rollouts yet.