{"id":17999,"date":"2025-01-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/?p=17999"},"modified":"2025-01-30T09:05:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T17:05:58","slug":"elevating-internal-communications-at-microsoft-with-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/elevating-internal-communications-at-microsoft-with-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Elevating internal communications at Microsoft with AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Microsoft<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At Microsoft, our internal communications teams are adopting a growth mindset and encouraging a transparent culture of learning to use AI more effectively for creative work. They\u2019re integrating AI into their daily tasks and collaborating between teams to save time and enhance content quality in our internal communications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOur team is fully dedicated to using AI as a partner for content creation,\u201d says Diana McCarty, the principal group content program manager for our IT Communications team, which sits in Microsoft Digital, the company\u2019s IT organization. \u201cOur team culture is to learn and grow and try new things. We\u2019re constantly pushing what we’re capable of, and we push the capability of the tools we use. So, we decided that we\u2019re going to go learn everything that we can about AI as individuals, bring it back to the team and collectively grow together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

McCarty\u2019s team consists of six content program managers who run 17 internal programs at Microsoft, spanning Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Teams, and network infrastructure. The team supports internal communications and helps ensure that Microsoft\u2019s 336,000 employees, vendors, and contractors have the information and encouragement they need to successfully adopt and embrace technology change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI tools and processes are part of approximately three-quarters of their daily content production processes and a driver for creativity across the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We\u2019re marketers, too,\u201d says Sarah Lundy, a senior content program manager. \u201cOur creative marketing campaigns inject a little sunshine into employees\u2019 days and drive understanding and action at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why we\u2019re prioritizing AI in communications<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Michels,
Allison Michels (left to right), Diana McCarty, Laura Oxford, Sarah Lundy, and Eva Etchells are part of the team at Microsoft that\u2019s integrating AI into their daily tasks and collaborating between teams to save time and enhance content quality for internal communications.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot have become a game-changer for the IT Communications team and communications teams across the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“I can’t even imagine a world where I don’t have Copilot to run things against,\u201d says Allison Michels, a senior program manager in the Microsoft Viva product group who works closely with the IT Communications team. \u201cWhether it\u2019s creating webinars, writing blogs, or responding to emails, AI has become an integral part of my daily communication tasks.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

AI handles repetitive tasks, giving communicators more time for strategic and creative work. AI also helps the team analyze data quickly and accurately, providing insights that guide decisions and strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no fear of AI taking our jobs,\u201d says Laura Oxford, a program content manager on the IT Communications team. “We found the more we used AI and played around with it, the less worried we became about it replacing roles. In fact, AI is enhancing the human capabilities of our team rather than replacing them. It can’t replace the unique value that human communicators bring to the table.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team has observed significant enhancements since prioritizing AI, including boosted efficiency, increased creativity, and greater insight into their daily work. Embracing AI has helped the team stay ahead and deliver more impactful content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI skills are critical in the modern workplace<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The IT Communications team has also been using AI to become better communicators by identifying new opportunities for learning, growth, and skill enhancement. Using Copilot to compose and critique their content helps identify their strengths and weaknesses, providing personalized recommendations for improvement. This included asking AI questions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n