How do I disable the "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Host [etc]" feature?

Anonymous
2023-02-09T16:34:50+00:00

We have started getting complaints from our customers over this "feature" as it appears to be quite the resource hog, and of course they are blaming our add-ins.

Killing the ai.exe process appears to have no ill effect on the usability of Office programs such as Word, Outlook or Excel.

So I need to know how we can disable it. I'd prefer to give an instruction to our users on how they can switch off a feature they do not want, they feel they do not need, and that causes their old PCs to start sounding like a Harrier Jet taking off.

Thank you

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | Other | Other

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Anonymous
2024-02-07T21:10:13+00:00

This seems to work. There are all sorts of solutions put out there that involve things like editing the Registry. Here's a much easier fix that seems to have worked for me (and this is from The Geek Page https://thegeekpage.com/how-to-disable-the-artificial-intelligence-ai-host-feature/).

First, the obvious: delete the AI executables from the OFFICE folder:
ai.exe

ai.exe
aitrx.dll

Second - this is incredibly easy. Deleting the executables does not completely work because Office automatically updates itself with new copies of those files.

Since the AI Host runs when you use an Office app:
Disable the Office app updates.

To do this, open any Office application, like Word.

– Click the “File” menu and then the “Account” menu item - this may be under the "More..." menu item, in which case click "More..." and then click "Account"

– There, click on “Update Options”, which brings up a popup menu - on the popup menu, set that to “Disable Updates” to disable Office updates for all Office apps

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-09-14T01:39:35+00:00

    Well if you have been around this long then you are probably like me and wonder "why" you are still here... sometimes. Its huge... the way I was "raised" in the industry compared to today.... its not unlike what we see between our generations in our society... family etc. What I learned I still live by and it gives me an edge over today's mindset and procedures, abilities of fellow IT person. I started with the large computers, mainframe systems - a few brands. If you didn't have the ability to troubleshoot... the mind for it and the discipline and tenacity... you didn't last long. That level by far is more sophisticated than what we have scaled down into smaller boxes... and less need for that kind of mind and depth of thought. People today easily go out and get a "computer science" degree... these A+ programs... the attitudes I encounter are really "something"... we have a lot of little peacocks running around - all words - no knowledge or born ability, they shouldn't be there. I have no patience with them.

    Am so glad to know there still are people who know how to take a problem apart and isolate it.... and a fellow gray bearded wizard... truly a Brother in the business. I respect the longevity and I am sure you have many stories... Yes we've come a long way baby.... I appreciate that and glad you stepped in on this one.

    As for Office alternatives... or Exchange... The closest suite of email with all the bells and whistles I have been involved with is Groupwise from Novell. Worked with Novell OS and Groupwise at the college here for 5 years... It too is something you have keep messing with and fixing... Linux I encountered mostly before the PC became a big deal.

    This AI.... apparently is focused at Office. So when they get the bright idea to "improve our experience" again and deploy a version to work with the OS... and thats what I expect... we'll have to see just how it gets deployed... if its a choice... or will it be as the current version is... snuck on and hidden... how ingrained it might be...

    It feels good to beat them when they pull this stuff...

    And like you say.... people today... eat it up... everything is so open and in an app... and we share... Microsoft has always had to update their unsecured OS's full of holes - to keep out the hackers... what the hell do you think AI - be it theirs or someone's concoction of an AI is going to offer the hackers??? It might turn into a real good time for them... and for us.... it never ceases...

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-09-13T00:13:00+00:00

    I am sure you're right... I would expect that. I have dealt with them since DOS 1.0.

    HA ... sounds like we're similar vintage!

    We've both witnessed an enormous shift in how IT has developed & progressed over the decades, and in end user expectations.

    That almost nobody seems that concerned with privacy is incredibly strange to us, who is collecting data on whom, where & why. I don't expect much resistance to AI integration given how pervasive AI is becoming, seems everybody seems convinced AI is fantastic.

    As for MS Office alternatives, I've used Outlook with Exchange Server since first release and I have tried to find viable *nix alternatives to Outlook & Exchange Server's tightly integrated collaboration features, but didn't. The obvious things are covered of course but the lack of Tasks and Notes is where the others always failed for me; these are features that I value highly in Outlook/Exchange. I know lots of people don't use them but I have a great reluctance to giving them up as they're working features in the Android app I bought to connect to our Exchange accounts.

    While Word is probably easy to replace, Excel ... I cannot as I have spreadsheets that use paid add-ons that won't work with anything other than Excel.

    As long as the GPO and AV can stop ai.exe from running, we'll keeping use MS Office. If they find workarounds to these blocking measures, we'll keep investigating. I suspect eventually we'll need to identify the hostnames/IPs to block at the firewall level.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-09-12T18:11:46+00:00

    @alpenit BANG ON THE MARK!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-09-12T18:01:35+00:00

    I am sure you're right... I would expect that. I have dealt with them since DOS 1.0. With all the other nonsense going on, censorship, control... why not jump on the wagon and do the same? I have voiced my opinions and frustrations with them to the point I don't need to repeat...

    AI should be kept outside of an operating system that is mostly used for professional business.... We just want a reliable working OS with reliable software to do what business requires... Whatever role this MS AI is playing - in the way it was/is implemeted... secretly without notice or permission... hiding like a malware - is an abuse of the intent to instill trust and feel secure with their OS. It is almost insulting to discover it in the way it is found... no option as to allow or diallow it - no option to choose not to use it.... and above all - knowing whats its purpose is or its potential... what "can" it do or what "will" they instruct it to do...

    We don't need it - it is of NO benefit... let people choose if they want something like that running on their computers... for me - it is a SPY... AI implies some foreign program that monitors, watches... wants to manipulate... Not on my systems.... No announcement of it being distributed and for what reason - its purpose or benefits... Too much of this today with our personal liberties and rights already.... Keep your **** off my systems

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