The UK Department for Business and Trade has published the results of its Microsoft 365 Copilot pilot, showing that neurodiverse employees reported significantly higher satisfaction with the AI assistant than their neurotypical colleagues.
Between October 2024 and March 2025, the department issued 1,000 Copilot licenses, with 300 participants volunteering for evaluation. Researchers combined diary studies, interviews, and observed tasks to measure how employees used the tool in daily work.
Higher satisfaction among neurodiverse users
Overall satisfaction with Copilot stood at 72%, but a clear gap existed between the groups. Neurodiverse employees reported higher satisfaction with a 90% confidence level and showed stronger willingness to recommend the tool, backed by a 95% confidence level.
Practical benefits in daily work
Comments from participants highlighted specific advantages:
- An employee with ADHD said Copilot “leveled the playing field,” helping manage challenges in focus and productivity.
- A dyslexic participant described feeling “empowered” when writing reports, noting that Copilot did “a hell of a lot more” than traditional assistive software since it is built into familiar apps.
- Hearing-disabled employees valued AI transcription in meetings, which reduced fatigue and enabled quicker recall of discussion points.
Integration and inclusivity
Unlike standalone assistive technologies, Copilot works directly within Microsoft 365 applications, allowing users to access support without switching tools. This seamless integration appeared to amplify the tool’s impact for neurodiverse employees, giving them more confidence in daily tasks and making participation in group work easier.
Scope and limitations
The study did not specify how many of the 300 participants identified as neurodiverse, and researchers acknowledged that the 90% confidence level for satisfaction falls short of academic gold standards. Still, the stronger 95% confidence level on likelihood to recommend suggests Copilot is making a meaningful difference for these users.
