Microsoft denies allegations of AI training on customer data

Microsoft has denied allegations that it uses user data from its Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word and Excel, to train artificial intelligence models. Reuters Reported

The company’s statement, released Wednesday, came in response to social media posts where users claimed the “Connected Experiments” feature — which is enabled by default — was being used to train AI models.

A Microsoft spokesperson explained in an emailed statement. Reuters: “These claims are false. Microsoft does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 users and commercial applications to train the underlying models of the language.”

The spokesperson further explained that the “connected experiences” feature is responsible for functions like co-authoring and cloud storage, and has nothing to do with how Microsoft trains its AI models.

Despite this clarification, concerns about data privacy on social media persist, with some users expressing concern about their data being potentially used for AI training without express permission.

Additionally, Microsoft stated Bleeping computer That the “Connected Experiences” feature has been on by default since its introduction in April 2019.

The feature enables tools like real-time grammar suggestions and web-based resources, and Microsoft emphasizes that users have full control over their settings and can opt out at any time.