Microsoft Denies Using Office Data to Train AI Models

The company clarifies that its 'Connected Experiences' feature does not contribute to AI training, addressing widespread concerns.

Microsoft has refuted claims that data from Word and Excel is used to train its large language models (LLMs) like Copilot.
The controversy arose from confusion over the 'Connected Experiences' feature, which is enabled by default and supports internet-dependent functionalities such as co-authoring and grammar checks.
Microsoft emphasized that 'Connected Experiences' analyzes content solely to provide productivity features and is unrelated to AI model training.
Users concerned about privacy can disable the feature through Microsoft 365 settings, though some cloud-based functionalities will be affected.
The debate highlights growing user concerns about data privacy as other tech companies have opted users into AI training by default in the past.