Microsoft has finally addressed the allegations it faced regarding the alleged misuse of user data to train its AI models. On November 27, Microsoft denied claims that it uses customer data from its Microsoft 365 applications, including Word and Excel, to train artificial intelligence models. So, what exactly led to these allegations? Let’s take a closer look at the situation.
Microsoft denies all allegations
The response came after some users took to social media, urging the tech giant to allow users to opt out of its “connected experiences” feature. These users argued that the “connected experiences” feature was being used to train AI models.
In an emailed statement to Reuters, 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 spokesperson further clarified that the “connected experiences” feature enables functionalities such as co-authoring and cloud storage. It has no connection to how the company trains its large language models (LLMs).
Other updates
Amid these controversies, just a few days ago, Microsoft launched its much-awaited AI-powered feature. On November 22, the company unveiled this feature in a preview Windows 11 build for Copilot+ PCs. Notably, these PCs are powered by Qualcomm processors. The ‘Recall’ feature acts like a photographic memory for your PC.
The feature allows users to search for previously accessed documents, apps, websites, or other important files, even based on vague clues or a timeline of past activity. For example, you can scroll through your digital timeline to find files whose names you may have forgotten. Simply provide some hints or keywords related to the file, and AI will find it for you.
Follow FE Tech Bytes on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook
