It depends, as each format has pros and cons. A Word file lets you open, check and change the minutes yourself afterwards, which matters because AI minutes always need a human review. A PDF can recreate the look of your template more closely, but it is much harder to edit.
More in Accuracy and Checking
Does Copilot use my own Data or outside Sources?
It prefers your own data and only goes outside when it has to. In Excel, for example, if it can work out a figure from your columns, it builds a formula. If the ingredients are missing, it searches for them. You can override this either way, for example by telling it to take the figure from the World Bank.
Why does my Copilot notebook show fewer references than I uploaded?
Because it is still loading. The notebook only counts the references it has finished indexing, so wait until everything has loaded and the count catches up. Separately, there is a limit to how much it searches in one go, so ask targeted questions and ask it to quote the sections it used.
How do I check AI output quickly?
Ask the AI to quote the exact source text under every statement, then use Ctrl+F to find each quote in the original. That turns a full re-read into a quick spot check. You still read everything, because AI removes the drafting work, not the responsibility for checking it.