Earlier this week, Microsoft faced accusations of using customer data from Word documents and Excel spreadsheets to train AI models. Naturally, given the private nature of the information contained in these documents, these rumors sparked a wave of concern. However, Microsoft quickly denied these claims, clarifying that customer data in Microsoft 365 apps is not used for training large language models (LLMs). The company explained that the settings in question are intended for features that require internet connectivity, such as co-authoring documents.
The roots of these concerns lie in Microsoft’s previous actions with AI, particularly how it handles data on LinkedIn. This has led people to assume the worst when it comes to data privacy and Microsoft’s AI initiatives. The anxiety was fueled by a feature in Office known as “Connected Experiences,” which was misinterpreted as being a tool for AI model training. Instead, these experiences are meant for productivity enhancements, like PowerPoint suggesting images.
Analyzing data is a highly scrutinized practice today, and Microsoft’s default settings for Connected Experiences, along with its prominence in AI, did not help quell the suspicions. Some users suspected the default activation was a covert way of accessing their data.
However, Microsoft has upheld its stance that no such data usage is happening in this instance. In a conversation with How-To Geek, Microsoft stated, “Microsoft does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 consumer and commercial applications to train large language models.” The tech giant further elaborated that the Connected Services setting facilitates internet-dependent features to enhance productivity by integrating online resources.
As Microsoft stepped up to address the speculations, the official Microsoft 365 account on X also emphasized this stance, reassuring customers about data safety.
Now, what exactly is the “Connected Experiences” feature in Microsoft 365? Primarily, it’s a service that allows these applications to access internet functionalities, aiding users with tasks like recommending images for Word documents or enabling real-time co-writing. Microsoft provides detailed documentation about Connected Experiences, outlining how they function and the categories involved.
Toggling these settings on or off demands navigating through several menu layers: File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options > Privacy Settings. Here, you’ll find settings like “Experiences that analyze your content” and “Experiences that download online content” enabled by default.
The default on position raises additional concerns since variations may exist depending on regional regulations, like those in the European Union and Switzerland, which have stringent data protection laws.
Considering Microsoft’s history with leveraging data for AI, worry is understandable. For instance, LinkedIn, which Microsoft owns, recently introduced a controversial feature: Data for Generative AI improvement. This allows data collection for AI training from the platform. This feature was enabled by default without wide user awareness.
With the scale and importance of Microsoft 365 in global business operations, any hint of improper data usage could spell trouble. Yet, Microsoft has affirmed that using customer data from 365 apps like Word and Excel for AI training isn’t part of their current approach. Nonetheless, the conversation around data privacy in AI remains crucial and worth close observation.
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