‘Microsoft secretly uses Word documents to train AI’

Microsoft is reportedly using your Word documents to train AI models, but what exactly is that? You must disable this feature!

Microsoft Word and AI

Do you regularly use Microsoft Word? In that case, there is a good chance that a feature has been enabled that you did not know existed. This concerns the ‘Optional connected experiences’ feature, which is enabled by default in programs such as Word and Excel. According to Microsoft, several components work with these connected experiences. This includes recommendations for the design of your document and downloading templates.

According to some rumors, this isn’t the only thing Microsoft is using the feature for. Multiple reports indicate that Microsoft may use the Word and Excel documents with ‘Optional Connected Experiences’ enabled to train AI models. These language models must be supplemented with documents, so that they become smarter and more advanced. Don’t you want that? Then you have to adjust the settings of Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

This is how you disable the function

Obviously, ‘Optional Connected Experiences’ at Microsoft will give you access to design recommendations, editing suggestions, and other similar features. Microsoft’s website does not mention that your documents may be used to train AI models. Do you want to be completely sure that your documents are well protected? Then take your Mac(Book) and disable the following function:

You only need to adjust these settings once, then the function is disabled in all Microsoft programs. So it is not necessary to turn off ‘Optional connected experiences’ in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Please note, because once you have changed the settings you will have to restart the program. So make sure you save the file first so that no data is lost.

Response from Microsoft

Microsoft has now responded to the rumors and has indicated that it will not use personal documents to train large language models. Additionally, according to the company, the Optional Connected Experiences feature is not connected to the way Microsoft trains AI. In addition, Microsoft emphasizes that the feature has been enabled by default since its introduction in April 2019.

Are you still unsure whether Microsoft uses programs such as Word and Excel to train AI? Then we recommend turning off ‘Optional connected experiences’. A number of functions will disappear, including translating and predicting texts, smart searching and reading aloud. Do you not or rarely use these functions? Then adjust your settings to ensure that your files are not used for training language models.