In this episode of the AI Applied podcast, Jaeden Schafer and Conor engage with Jared Spataro, Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, discussing the transformative impact of AI on work.
They explore the concept of an AI native mindset, the role of Copilot and autonomous agents in enhancing productivity, and address concerns about job security in the age of AI.
Through his “AI at Work” article series and related writings, Jared shares success stories from various industries, highlighting how AI is not just a tool but a catalyst for new opportunities and efficiencies in business processes.
He has shared a wealth of insights and recommendations for planning and implementing the adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot. Drawing from his extensive experience overseeing Microsoft’s AI-driven workplace tools, Spataro emphasizes a strategic, intentional, and people-centric approach to integrating AI into organizational workflows.
Ai at Work
The Wall Street Journal described how AI is reshaping white collar work, and in their executives interview Bloomberg spoke with Indeed CEO Chris Hyams and Stanford Digital Economy Lab Director Erik Brynjolfsson to discuss these key trends impacting employees and employers in 2025 and beyond.
In this article ‘AI at Work: What Are AI Agents, and How Do They Help Businesses’, Jared introduces the idea of ‘AI Agents’, defining them as central this mission of building an AI Native organization. He says:
“They’re a hot topic for good reason: just as every employee will have an AI assistant like Copilot, every business process will soon be transformed by agents.”
He explains the difference between AI Copilots and Agents, where the former is a support assistant for staff, intelligently performing information tasks on their behalf, whereas agents execute business processes. Agents can be taught new skills, like the ability to send emails, create support tickets, or update records. You can teach them to react to events or triggers, such as an email from a customer.
“AI agents, on the other hand, are able to execute business processes. They can range from simple prompt-and-response agents to more advanced, fully autonomous agents that can execute an entire workflow from start to finish. Agents can think or reason, remember, be trained, and even know when to ask for help.”
Jared anticipates a future where organizations have entire constellations of agents: In sales they’ll research leads, help prioritize opportunities, and guide customer outreach with personalized emails and responses. In the supply chain they’ll minimize disruptions by autonomously tracking supplier performance, detecting delays, and recommending adjustments on the fly.
AI Adoption Best Practices
Spataro stresses that successfully integrating AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot isn’t just about deploying the technology—it demands deliberate planning and a willingness to experiment. He describes the process as akin to “riding on the rocket ship as we’re building it,” highlighting the dynamic, iterative nature of AI adoption. Organizations must approach it with purpose, learning from real-world use cases to refine their strategies.
Tangible Productivity Gains Are Achievable: Early adopters have demonstrated measurable benefits. For instance, Microsoft’s internal studies of nearly 10,000 support agents showed a 12% reduction in case handling time and a 10% boost in case resolution rates. Similarly, HR teams using Copilot saw faster response times to complex employee queries, illustrating how AI can streamline processes and enhance efficiency across departments.
Spataro recommends making employee training a priority from the outset. Microsoft implemented live one-on-one and group sessions where employees could practice prompting Copilot, alongside self-guided courses on platforms like SharePoint and Viva Engage.
Focus on Prompt Engineering: Crafting effective prompts is key to unlocking Copilot’s potential. He advises organizations to teach employees how to interact with AI iteratively, refining inputs to improve outputs. As both trainers and users grow comfortable with Copilot, training should adapt to reflect new use cases and capabilities.
AI Amplifies Human Potential, Not Replaces It: Spataro underscores that Copilot is designed to augment human capabilities rather than substitute them. He cites examples like Copilot’s ability to free employees from rote tasks (e.g., note-taking in Teams meetings), allowing them to focus on higher-value activities like critical thinking and collaboration. This shift requires a mindset change—viewing AI as a partner, not a threat.
Cultural Shifts Are as Important as Technological Ones: Adopting AI isn’t solely a software challenge; it’s a cultural transformation. Spataro notes that organizations must foster a culture of adaptability and continuous learning to maximize AI’s potential. This involves addressing emotional responses to change and helping employees see the personal value AI brings to their work, such as time savings and improved output quality.
Leadership Must Drive Adoption Strategically: Leaders play a pivotal role in AI adoption. Spataro advises that those who creatively reimagine business processes with AI will gain a competitive edge. He points to companies like Accenture, which saved users 30 minutes to 3 hours daily, as proof that strategic deployment can yield significant ROI—but only if leadership champions the shift.
Spataro advises establishing regular meetings of AI-focused groups to share insights and ensure cohesive adoption across the organization. He warns against delaying adoption, noting that the value of AI is too significant to postpone. Leaders must act proactively to stay ahead.
Early Adopters Highlight Unexpected Trends: Spataro shares surprising findings, such as tenured managers adapting to Copilot more easily than less-experienced counterparts. This suggests that experience with workflows enhances AI utilization, offering a clue for targeting training efforts.
Spataro suggests recognizing and incentivizing employees who embrace AI, such as showcasing their successes at company-wide events (e.g., Microsoft’s legal team highlighted adopters at a summit). This inspires broader uptake. Encourage power users to guide peers, creating a network of advocates who can answer questions and share best practices.
Summary
Jared Spataro’s insights reveal that adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot is a multifaceted endeavor requiring intention, experimentation, and a human-centric focus. Organizations can realize productivity gains and competitive advantages by investing in training, fostering a supportive culture, leveraging data, and embedding AI into daily workflows.
His recommendations emphasize starting with practical steps—training employees, celebrating successes, and iterating based on feedback—while encouraging leaders to think boldly about reinventing processes. By balancing technological deployment with cultural adaptation, businesses can harness Copilot to transform work, making it more efficient, creative, and fulfilling.
