Microsoft Denies Using Customer Data for AI Training

Microsoft has firmly denied allegations of using customer data from Microsoft 365 applications, like Word and Excel, to train artificial intelligence (AI) models.

The rebuttal comes after claims surfaced on social media suggesting that the “connected experiences” feature—enabled by default—was contributing to AI training.

In a statement to Reuters on Wednesday, a Microsoft spokesperson said, “These claims are untrue. Microsoft does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 consumer and commercial applications to train foundational large language models.”

The company clarified that the “connected experiences” feature, which has been active by default since its launch in April 2019, powers functionalities such as co-authoring documents and cloud storage integration.

According to Microsoft, this feature operates independently of the processes used to train AI systems.

Despite these assurances, privacy concerns linger among some users, who worry their data could be utilized for AI development without explicit consent.

Microsoft addressed these concerns by emphasizing that users retain control over their settings and can disable the feature at any time.

The company also explained to BleepingComputer that tools supported by connected experiences include real-time grammar checks and access to web-based resources, which enhance productivity but are unrelated to AI model training.

This clarification is part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to maintain transparency about its data usage practices amid growing scrutiny of AI technology and its implications for user privacy.