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

Following concerns that Microsoft is using connected experiences in its office apps to train its AI language models, the company clarified that worries are unfounded.

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

All of the recent hullabaloo surrounding Microsoft 365's 'connected experiences' has been a misunderstanding, per the company.

People are increasingly worried about how AI affects them. Will our jobs become obsolete? Are we constantly being tracked online and in the real world? Most recently, people have raised concerns about whether our creative and professional work is being used to train large language models.

In the latest controversy, Microsoft has refuted the claim stating that it doesn't use Word documents or Excel data to train its AI models.

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.

Microsoft's 'optional' Connected Experiences enable Microsoft to use Excel and Word files to train its AI technology, but it is possible to turn this feature off.