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
    2023-05-31T02:26:14+00:00

    Since I started using the scripts, I have had a task setup in task scheduler to run the scripts with "run with highest privileges" and "run whether user is logged on or not" checked. It runs once an hour - 24 hours.... I have not had it return in weeks or after updates... I mean if it returns - its gone shortly. So I'm ok with that... until they figure out people are doing the same of course and they do something to defeat that... I wonder if there is anything in group policy.... or a way to block install in group policy.... hmmm

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-05-31T04:46:32+00:00

    ... I wonder if there is anything in group policy.... or a way to block install in group policy.... hmmm

    Good starting point, in GPOs we can block stuff from executing, so even if it gets updated it shouldn't run.

    I renamed the files to the originals, added software restriction paths on my AD GPO to stop machines executing ai.exe.

    Forced a GPupdate, rebooted, left the machine for another 20min while I did something else then launched Outlook.

    So far ... no sign of AI Host running under Outlook in Task Manager ... so far!

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-05-31T08:01:19+00:00

    Today Outlook crashed. When I ran Task Manager, AI.EXE plus about ten other non-Outlook programs were running under Outlook. Looks like Microsoft is now beginning to force Edge and other Web-based into Outlook.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-31T08:04:46+00:00

    Agree! In the good old days, prior to November 2022, we could count on Google being a data thief and peeping tom re privacy. Microsoft was the relatively good player.

    That changed when they crammed AI.EXE and its affiliated Edge add-ons into registry, without an opt-in.

    Guessing EU will be the first to shut them down.

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