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
    2023-06-25T03:52:10+00:00

    I don't mind what they do IF they explained what it was for, what it is meant to do, why it's a benefit, whom it benefits, where data is processed/stored, who has access, what are the risks, etc. ... AND allow users the ability make a fully-informed decision to Opt OUT if so desired.

    The reality is that AI.EXE should always have been disabled unless a user specifically Opts IN, but no.

    I implemented the same blocks in the AV system and attempted to run ai.exe as Administrator but Windows would not allow it so I could not confirm if the AV might have blocked it. You'll be in a good position to confirm if your AV does prevent the launch of ai.exe on the Win 11 Home machine, please report back when you get a chance!

    Another layer of protection would be to determine what IP addresses ai.exe is hitting so we can block outbound traffic at the firewall. Presumably this will be DC locale driven but I maybe over time we can build a list of various DC IP blocks for different regions.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-25T10:01:18+00:00

    Hope Microsoft's AI will get clever enough to know we don't want it and deletes itself. It should be able to get that now ;)

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