A TikTok user has warned of a Microsoft setting you should be sure to turn off if you don’t want your work to be used to train AI.

In a recent viral video, user @UFDTech explained, “Everyone’s been freaking out about [the Microsoft AI] Recall, but another setting called ‘Connected Experiences’ is on by default, and unless you manually opt out of it, anything you type in Word or Excel could be reused to make robots smarter.”

Connected Experiences

Microsoft’s “Connected Experiences” refer to the integration of various applications, services and devices that, in theory, are built to improve productivity and collaboration.

Connected experiences use cloud-based services, artificial intelligence, and cross-device synchronization to provide users with a seamless digital workspace.

Training Local AI

According to UFDTech, Microsoft says that it uses personal data “for improving the accuracy of automated methods of processing, including AI”.

“There’s a few people online arguing that it’s not what it looks like and that they’re only using the data to train local AI like Copilot,” he noted. “But isn’t that exactly why we were just all freaking out about Recall? And also, do we really believe that?”

He added that if Microsoft changes the setting to require users to opt in, it might already be too late.

“Just imagine how much data they have already trained it on, even if it turned off today,” he said.

How to Turn It Off

To turn off ‘Connected Experiences’, follow these steps:

• Go to File and Options
• Click on Trust Center, then Trust Center Settings
• Click on Privacy Options, then Privacy Settings
• Find Optional Connected Experiences
• Then uncheck the box that says “Turn on Optional Connected Experiences”

“Way to make it easy, Microsoft,” the user quipped.

Users React

Many TikTok users shared UFDTech’s concern, with one noting, “This is why I’m waiting to ‘upgrade’ to Windows 11. Every time I hear something new about it, just makes me dread next October more and more.”

“I already manually opted out of all Windows settings. By uninstalling and getting Linux. No regrets,” another noted.

One user, however, wasn’t concerned by the use of their data, explaining, “I want AI to get better so it’s good to give data for the training.”

“That’s fine if you do,” one commenter responded, “BUT HAVING IT ON BY DEFAULT IS INSANE.”

Newsweek reached out to the user requesting further comment on Thursday, Jan. 30.