Microsoft's Viva Insights Now Tracks Employee AI Usage with Internal Leaderboards

Key facts

• Microsoft's Viva Insights added Copilot usage benchmarks for managers.
• Managers can view active Copilot user percentages by team, region, and function.
• Active Copilot users are defined as employees making 'intentional actions' in Microsoft apps.
• External benchmarking uses randomized mathematical models, not real company data.
• Coinbase CEO publicly fired engineers who refused to use AI.
• A July 2024 study found AI coding assistants reduced efficiency for experienced developers.
• An October 2024 study showed AI tools did not significantly boost productivity or reduce burnout.

A New Tool for Monitoring AI Adoption

Microsoft has introduced a feature in its Viva Insights platform that allows managers to track and compare how employees use its Copilot AI assistant. The new Copilot usage benchmarks provide a dashboard showing the percentage of active Copilot users across teams, by manager type, region, or job function. Managers can also see which Microsoft applications—Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, or Loop—are being used with AI. Microsoft says the tool is designed to help businesses identify efficiency bottlenecks and improve return on investment for Copilot licenses, which are not inexpensive. The company also offers external benchmarking, allowing firms to compare their AI adoption rates against other companies, though Microsoft emphasizes that this data is generated through randomized mathematical models and cannot identify specific organizations.

How Active Copilot Usage Is Defined

Microsoft defines an 'active Copilot user' as an employee who has performed an 'intentional action' with AI features in the listed Microsoft applications. This distinction means managers see the proportion of staff actually using AI to complete tasks, not just those who have installed the software. The metrics include the percentage of returning users and usage across different apps. the group results analyze the job composition of selected teams and calculate a weighted average expected outcome based on matching positions across the company. This allows for a more nuanced comparison than raw usage numbers.

From Efficiency Tool to Performance Metric

The introduction of Copilot usage benchmarks reflects a broader shift in how companies view AI: from a productivity aid to a metric for employee evaluation. Some firms have already made AI use mandatory. The CEO of Coinbase publicly stated he fired engineers who refused to use AI, and Microsoft itself enforces internal Copilot adoption. In Japan, Yahoo has set a goal to double productivity through AI. This trend is causing unease among employees, who see the leaderboard-style tracking as a form of surveillance that adds pressure. Critics argue that ranking AI usage may be more unsettling than outright mandates, as it creates a competitive environment around a tool that not all workers find useful for their tasks.

Studies Question AI's Actual Productivity Gains

Despite the push for AI adoption, recent research questions its effectiveness. A study published in July 2024 found that AI coding assistants actually reduced efficiency for experienced developers working on complex tasks. Another study from October 2024 concluded that AI tools did not significantly improve overall productivity or reduce employee burnout. while AI speeds up output, it also diminishes creativity and autonomy, making their work feel more like assembly-line tasks. These findings suggest that mandating AI use may have unintended consequences on both performance and job satisfaction.

The Broader Implications for Workplace Culture

Microsoft's Viva Insights, part of its employee experience platform, already collects data from Teams, Outlook, and other Office apps to analyze work habits. The addition of Copilot benchmarks deepens this surveillance, making AI adoption a visible and comparable metric. For companies, the feature offers a way to track whether their investment in AI is paying off. However, the long-term impact on workplace culture remains uncertain. While AI usage may increase in the short term due to monitoring, the quality of work and employee morale could suffer if the tool is used primarily as a performance stick rather than a support system. The balance between encouraging AI adoption and respecting employee autonomy will be a key challenge for organizations moving forward.

The bottom line

• Microsoft's Viva Insights now enables managers to track and compare employee AI usage via Copilot benchmarks.
• Active Copilot users are defined by intentional AI actions in Microsoft apps, not just installation.
• External benchmarking uses anonymized, randomized data to compare AI adoption across companies.
• Some companies, like Coinbase, have made AI use mandatory, with consequences for refusal.
• Recent studies indicate AI tools may not improve productivity for complex tasks and could reduce creativity.
• The feature raises concerns about workplace surveillance and the pressure of AI usage leaderboards.