Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights

AI Governance for MSPs as Copilot Control and Platform Automation Expand

Jan 13, 2026

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Rising workplace use of artificial intelligence is outpacing organizational governance, according to data from Microsoft and Gallup. Microsoft reports global AI adoption reached 16.3% in 2025, while Gallup finds nearly half of U.S. workers use AI tools at work at least annually. Despite that usage, only a minority of employees report clear employer guidance on AI ownership and purpose, creating accountability gaps that frequently surface during incidents or audits.

Additional data underscores uneven adoption and oversight. Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute notes adoption rates in the Global North are nearly double those in the Global South, correlating with earlier infrastructure and policy investment. Within organizations, most AI usage remains occasional rather than daily and is concentrated in knowledge roles, suggesting informal, user-driven deployment rather than standardized programs—conditions that complicate governance for MSP-supported environments.

Microsoft’s product moves further elevate the governance issue. The company is testing policies allowing IT administrators to uninstall Copilot on managed devices while simultaneously enforcing Windows and Office end-of-life timelines through 2026 and embedding purchasing directly into Copilot workflows. These changes expand administrative control but also place AI more firmly inside operational and economic decision paths that MSPs help manage.

Platform announcements from Acronis, Hexnode, and Google extend automation from assistance to execution, while public comments from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Linux creator Linus Torvalds highlight differing views on AI speed versus discipline. For MSPs and IT service providers, the practical takeaway centers on accountability: as AI systems take actions rather than make suggestions, governance, policy definition, and oversight become explicit services rather than implied responsibilities.

Four things to know today

00:00 AI Use Expands at Work, but Employees Say Transparency and Ownership Are Missing

04:37 Microsoft Lets IT Uninstall Copilot as Windows and Office End-of-Life Deadlines Near

07:38 Acronis Launches Archival Storage as Hexnode and Google Advance Platform-Centric Automation

11:07 Jensen Huang Warns Against AI Regulation as Linus Torvalds Limits AI’s Role in Critical Code

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