Microsoft Faces Backlash Over Default Data Sharing in Word and Excel for AI Training

The 'Connected Experiences' feature is enabled by default, requiring users to navigate a complex opt-out process to protect their content.

Microsoft's 'Connected Experiences' feature in Word and Excel collects user data by default, allegedly for AI training purposes.
Critics argue the opt-out process is unnecessarily complicated, involving multiple steps in the software's settings menu.
Microsoft denies using customer data for training generative AI models, claiming the feature supports internet-dependent functions like co-authoring documents.
The company's Services Agreement grants Microsoft broad rights to user content, raising concerns about intellectual property and data privacy.
The controversy reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies face scrutiny over data usage for AI development without explicit user consent.