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
    2023-08-24T16:04:29+00:00

    Paul,

    You sound a lot like me, I had to find it amusing, not may people seem to have noticed... about the how buggy Office and Windows is.... I find Windows 11 is buggy as hell.... Office is gettng worse... (they keep "making it better"). Just want to mention if you haven't found these yet. Myself and two other's each had worked on how to disable it, block it, or kill it and delete it. There is a script... I proposed as a batch file using taskill, then we found we could deny it in group policy, but it seems only in Windows Pro versions... Home you can enable GPEDIT, but it doesn't seems to work withthe GPO in Home version... a 2nd guy found you block with your anti-virus program perhaps... All 3 seem effective... I like the GPO approach the best... if you jujst delete it - it comes back next time you update Windows or Office... I only see it running with Office apps open. I think its on page 2 of this forum that I start posting... look for my posts and you see where I post the taskill solution first... later its the GPO.. also read what the other tech who worked with me in these posts - what he says.

    Let mw know if you can't find or are unsure of what you find.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-13T11:43:52+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

    Please add an off switch to AI. It is annoying that it interrupts what I AM DOING WITH IRRELEVANT INFORMATION.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-11T01:20:40+00:00

    I'll try your fix. Remember, not everyone understands the tech language. I read the "instructions" several times before I posted my question and really didn't understand what would work. I found the ai.exe files and deleted them. I really hope this doesn't cause my computer to crash. I'm using Windows 10 on a Microsoft Surface btw. Thanks for the help. Hope it works as that glitch has caused me significant loss of productivity in the last week!

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-10T23:06:58+00:00

    You have virtually rendered Microsoft Word inoperable when sharing Word documents with others via email. I will be forced to use Google Docs to create text documents. Please remove this AI thing from Microsoft 365. I need my Word program to work.

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