US House Reverses AI Ban, Grants Access to Microsoft Copilot

In a recent announcement during the annual US Congressional Hackathon, House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that Microsoft 365 Copilot, integrated with OneDrive and Outlook, will be accessible to staffers, reversing the previous year's ban.

According to Axios, up to 6,000 staffers will receive licenses to use the product over the next year. An email notice from Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor to House staff stated that this move will enable the House to better serve constituents and streamline workflows.

Additionally, all House offices will have access to Copilot Chat, a lighter version that does not have direct access to office data but offers enhanced legal and data protections.

Technical staff began testing the products in June, with early adopters and leadership staff set to receive access in the coming months.

The notice also mentioned that other AI products are under consideration, with the CAO reviewing recent $1 annual offers from major AI companies to the federal government. The CAO is assessing these short-term offers and exploring ways to test enterprise versions of the platforms over the next year.

These initiatives build on two years of work, including thorough reviews and authorizations for major AI tools and the launch of the House AI Expo in July, which featured over 15 vendors and speakers. Further details about the rollout will be released in the coming months.

Speaker Johnson emphasized that this marks an important moment in the institution's history, highlighting AI's potential to unlock significant savings for the government and enhance Congress's ability to serve the American public.