Microsoft on Wednesday denied claims that it uses customer data from its Microsoft 365 applications, including Word and Excel, to train artificial intelligence models.

Microsoft says it isn’t using customer data from its Microsoft 365 apps to train its AI models. The clarification addresses reports circulating online in the last few weeks claiming Microsoft required Word and Excel users to opt out of training the company’s AI systems.

The setting in question 'only enables features requiring internet access like co-authoring a document,' Microsoft says.

Over the past couple of weeks, rumors have surfaced that Microsoft is scraping customers' Word documents and Excel spreadsheets to train its AI systems. These claims arose after Microsoft introduced a new feature in October called Connected Experiences,

Confusion over Connected Experiences settings in 365 apps spark concerns Microsoft's Connected Experiences option in its productivity suite has been causing consternation amid accusations that the default setting might allow Microsoft to train AI models using customers' Word and Excel documents and other data.