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
    2023-06-20T18:39:51+00:00

    Do you know what group policy is and how to access it? What "gender" of Windows do you have... Home or Professional (Pro)? Contributor YRP_1161 has posted the 2nd way to prevent this - it works only in Pro version as far as I can tell.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T18:51:11+00:00

    Hey buddy.... I just did another Office update and low and behold.... with the entries you found to work in GP... even after doing a force update and a reboot... guess who's back? ai.exe is running. Even with GP involved. My batch file still works... check your stuff - do the latest Office update.. see it our little nuisance has returned for you as well... hopefully its just me... I have other systems I can try on... will do.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T19:50:55+00:00

    To make it simple:

    press your Ctrl+Alt+Del keys simultaneously.

    Select Task Manager.

    On the Processes tab, find Microsoft Outlook or whatever other Office program you have running.

    Select the arrow to the left of the program name to open the sub-process listing.

    Select Artificial Intelligence..., then End task at the bottom of the window.

    You will need to do this every time you open an Office program.

    Fun, huh?

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T20:08:15+00:00

    ClunkyFaun5 Thanks. Thats obvious... but another, YRP_1161, and I have two working solutions that keep it gone. Suggest you go through the forum to find these - or just the last 48 hours as we both have posted with the solution or where to find it. Thanks... this might be what those who aren't "savvy" will need to do.

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