Microsoft Addresses Concerns Over Data Scraping for AI Training

Microsoft has recently faced scrutiny regarding claims that its 'Connected Experiences' feature in popular applications like Word and Excel automatically collects user data for artificial intelligence (AI) training. These allegations, primarily reported by @nixCraft, suggest that the data from user-generated Word documents and Excel files is being used to enhance Microsoft's AI tools, including Copilot.

According to the claims, this feature is enabled by default, which means that unless users actively turn it off, their data may be included in the datasets used for AI training. However, Microsoft has firmly denied this assertion, stating that it does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 apps for training AI models such as its Large Language Models (LLMs).

Understanding Connected Experiences

The 'Connected Experiences' feature is designed to support various functionalities that require internet connectivity, such as collaborative document editing or co-authoring. Microsoft maintains that this feature is primarily intended to improve user experience and productivity by offering real-time updates and cloud-based tools.

For users concerned about their data privacy or who wish to opt out of Connected Experiences, Microsoft has provided a straightforward method to disable it. Users can navigate to their privacy settings within the application by following this path: File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options. From there, they can uncheck the box next to 'Optional Connected Experiences' to disable the feature.

Conclusion

Microsoft, AI, Data