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
    2023-05-30T20:34:26+00:00

    So I just tried your suggestion on the Win10 system. Then had Office updates - ran those, and AI reappeared in both x64 and x86 folders.... the renamed files were still there as well as new copies of working AI files, I inserted a png file here showing files. Hopefully it shows for you as I can't see it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-05-30T20:06:09+00:00

    Huh... I wonder why the renamed files would prevent new copies of the originals to exist. Having a different file name - modified extension - should not prevent originals from existing. Adding to a filename with .bak... .old.... .sav is something commonly done but will not then stop new original copies from being in the same folder. I think I have a Win10 computer I might try your idea on.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-05-30T16:50:26+00:00

    I wish I had the time and patience to really find a "way", a place to contact MS - whomever that may be, whatever means of contact it would involve... and spend hours in futility, asking for them to make it an option....I do not. This just pisses me off. I have posted here as well as one other - two ways to script removal and schedule it. In my case - I run the task in Windows every hour. It runs "quiet" and fast and you never know it. They will reinstall AI with MS Updates and Office Updates both... You can see AI running in Task Manager under "Details" as a process, if it is installed on your systems. You should be able to find the script, .bat info under my username here.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-30T15:07:32+00:00

    I understand why Microsoft are doing this (forcing users to adopt AI) to gain market share and numbers. However, it's not welcome in my environment and I would also hazard to guess most others environment is a blatant intrusion on privacy as well as the ability to control what is and what is not installed on customers systems. Microsoft MUST allow users to "opt in" or not. Deleting the ai.exe is a band-aid on a festering wound. I suggest the script mentioned in this post is wrapped in a schedule and run daily because this AI will not go away as Microsoft will sneak it in to every update possible.
    "Resistance is futile", but people rule.

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