Can’t We Just Give Everyone ChatGPT or Copilot? Why That’s Only the Start
The Tempting Shortcut
More and more boardrooms are asking the same question:
“Can’t we just give everyone ChatGPT or Copilot and say we’ve done our AI bit?”
It’s an understandable idea. These tools are everywhere, and they can feel like the fastest way to “tick the AI box.”
Jamie Claret, CEO of Autonomate and keynote speaker on AI and automation, has a simple answer: Yes, do it. But don’t stop there.
ChatGPT and Copilot: Amplifiers, Not Solutions
Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini are amplifiers of productivity. They help individuals:
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Draft content more quickly
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Generate ideas faster
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Automate small daily tasks
The result? A 10–20% uplift in personal productivity. And that’s valuable.
But here’s the problem: those gains are hard to measure. You’ll struggle to put an ROI figure on “how much time you saved.” And often, the time saved gets swallowed by more tasks and more output.
The Risks (and Why They’re Worth Managing)
Of course, there are risks:
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Security: sensitive data could leak.
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Intellectual property: who owns what the AI generates?
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Shadow IT: staff using AI tools on their personal devices whether you allow it or not.
But these risks can be managed with the right policies. And in Jamie’s view, the benefits outweigh the risks. It’s better to embrace the tools than fight them.
Why It’s Not Enough: From Individual Productivity to Organisational Efficiency
The real business win doesn’t come from Jane in Accounts using Copilot faster. It comes when you look at end-to-end processes across departments.
Take invoice processing as an example:
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AI helps Jane type faster. Great.
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But when invoices need to move from Jane to Dave to Phil, the bottleneck is still there.
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With intelligent business automation (AI + automation), the whole process can be streamlined—cutting out handoffs, reducing errors, and boosting efficiency by 30–50%.
That’s measurable. That’s transformational. And it’s the difference between productivity and profitability.
The Bigger Picture: Tools vs Systems
Think of it like a factory line:
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Giving staff ChatGPT or Copilot is like giving them bionic hands. They can work faster on their part of the line.
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But the real breakthrough comes when you automate the entire line—so the process runs seamlessly from start to finish.
That’s where AI and automation together unlock their full potential.
Autonomate’s Approach: Beyond the Quick Fix
At Autonomate, we help companies move beyond the “just give everyone Copilot” mindset. Our approach:
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Encourage use of AI tools for personal productivity.
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Layer on Intelligent Automation across departments and systems.
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Deliver measurable ROI: efficiency gains, cost savings, and growth.
It’s not about choosing between ChatGPT and automation. It’s about combining both for maximum impact.
Conclusion: Embrace It, But Think Bigger
Yes, roll out ChatGPT or Copilot. Encourage staff to use them. Manage the risks and reap the productivity boost.
But don’t stop there. The real transformation comes when you connect AI’s intelligence with automation’s hands across your whole business.