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
    2023-06-22T12:36:21+00:00

    This script will do the job. Save this to a text file and name it eg. "NukeAI.cmd" and run it as administrator

    REM ###########################

    REM # Kill all ai.exe tasks

    REM ###########################

    taskkill /IM ai.exe /F

    REM ###########################

    REM # Remove ai.exe file

    REM ###########################

    del "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\ProgramFilesCommonX64\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE16\ai.exe"

    pause

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-21T10:27:48+00:00

    Screengrab of TskMgr from a spare Win10Pro/Office 2016 desktop after running all Windows & Office updates

    No sign of ai.exe running, and no webview2 either!

    Image

    I checked a few Win11Pro/Office 2019 machines were fully updated and confirm no ai.exe running when Outlook was open.

    On the spare Win10Pro/Office 2016 desktop I had a look at the ai files and the timestamps were all for today at the time the updates we being installed. So MS is definitely replacing these files every time an update runs.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-06-21T00:24:07+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.

    That's not happening for me. I launched Outlook 2019, checked Task Manager Processes, ran the Office Update which reported "Up to date", and restarted Outlook.

    No instance of MS ai.exe is running for me. I do keep an eye on it every time I launch Outlook as while it's been weeks since implementing the (revised x86 & x64) AD GPO Policy so far all our machines' Outlooks are purified of ai.exe.

    I've not looked at whether ai.exe normally runs with Edge Explorer (I suspect it probably does) but I cannot see ai.exe under the Edge processes either. Anyway, if the Group Policy works as expected, ai.exe should never launch for any MS request.

    Unfortunately I don't have any Win 10/11 Pro instances that are not connected to the server, otherwise I'd be happy to make up a complete guide to walk people through the steps with screenshots, etc.

    If I get time over the next few weeks I'll try to run up an old machine with Win10Pro and Office 2019, and make up a How To guide. I won't be able to do this for Win11Pro as all the machines are AD connected and licensed to the hardware, but if you could perhaps advise the steps needed for getting gpedit.msc installed and working on Win11Pro I could incorporate that into the doc (if I get that far).

    Screenshot of Task Manager on my Win 10 Pro/Office 2019 desktop

    Image

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T21:30:15+00:00

    Yes, if only it was that simple. Microsoft WANT you to use their stuff at all costs.

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