Microsoft Clarifies Use of User Data in AI Training Amid Social Media Concerns

On Wednesday, Microsoft addressed allegations regarding the utilization of user information from its Microsoft 365 applications, specifically Word and Excel, for training its artificial intelligence models. This clarification followed observations by several users on social media who noted that the company mandates an opt-out for its connected experiences feature, which they believed was linked to the training of AI systems.

Microsoft firmly stated that such assertions are false, clarifying that it does not incorporate user data from Microsoft 365 applications—both consumer and commercial—into its foundational large language models. A representative from the company explained in a communication that the connected experiences feature facilitates functionalities like collaborative editing and cloud storage. This feature, they emphasized, is unrelated to the training processes of their AI models.

The ongoing dialogue on social platforms highlights a persistent concern among users regarding the potential use of their personal data for AI training purposes without their explicit consent.