Microsoft denied claims that the company uses Microsoft 365 (including Word Excel and PowerPoint) apps to collect data for training its artificial intelligence (AI). This follows a Tumblr post that claimed Redmond used “Connected Experiences” to scrape customer Word and Excel data in order to train AI models. Microsoft’s spokesperson told BleepingComputer that the
“Microsoft does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 consumer and commercial applications to train large language models. Additionally, the Connected Services setting has no connection to how Microsoft trains large language models,” feature was used to scrape customers’ Word and Excel data for AI training.
BleepingComputer was also informed by the company that this option has been enabled by default ever since it became available in April 2019. BleepingComputer has been told.
“These features are on by default because they’re features people naturally expect in a cloud-connected productivity tool. However, customers always have control and can adjust their Connected Experiences settings at any time.”
According to Microsoft’s support website, this feature is used for:
- To provide design recommendations, editing tips, or data insights, based on Office content through features such as PowerPoint Designer or Translator;
- To download online content templates and images, 3D Models, videos, or reference materials including but not limited Office templates or PowerPoint QuickStarter.
Microsoft 365 users can toggle this feature on and off by opening their Office apps, such as Word or Excel, and choosing whether to enable or disallow experiences that download online material or analyze their content. This is done under “Connected experiences” in the File > Account> Account Privacy > Manage settings menu.
”The Connected Experiences setting enables cloud-backed features designed to increase your productivity in the Microsoft 365 apps like suggesting relevant information and images from the web, real-time co-authoring and cloud storage, and tools like Editor in Word that provide spelling and grammar suggestions,” Microsoft also told BleepingComputer.
“Microsoft has been using AI in Microsoft 365 for years to enhance productivity and creativity through features like Designer in PowerPoint, which helps create visually compelling slides, and Editor in Word, which provides grammar and writing suggestions. These features do not rely on generative AI or LLMs but rather use simpler machine learning algorithms.”
Microsoft added that the setting has been available since April 2019, with enterprise admins having the option to choose if connected experiences are available to users in their organizations using multiple policy settings designed to manage privacy controls for Microsoft 365 Apps and Office on Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
