Senate AI Approval Signals Vendor Lock‑In

The Senate CIO’s one‑page memo approves use of Google Gemini, OpenAI ChatGPT, and especially Microsoft Copilot for official work, while noting Copilot’s data remains in the Microsoft 365 Government environment. That combination of endorsement plus platform integration creates practical incentives for offices to standardize on the integrated vendor and its workflows. The move differs from the House’s more detailed restrictions and highlights an uneven federal approach to AI governance. — If major legislative offices standardize on specific commercial AI stacks, that will shape who controls government data, what security protections apply, and how quickly norms and oversight evolve.