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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer recommended by moderator
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

Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

240 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-06-25T02:41:16+00:00

    Agreed janh3... really due to how they have written this in to Windows, all we seem to be able to do is block it or remove. Removing it is fine if you apply a routine like a a scheduled removal. Also group policy at least on Pro versions of Win 10/11 can also block it. If there is a way to "block it", then whatever that is - is just as good as the other for now. We have to check every so often to see if MS has either found a way around these removals and blocks or starts naming their executables and ancillary files something else... they are always making little changes... If these solutions we have presented here - get popular... then I would expect some kind of "retaliation" to thwart them. So YES - block bl;ock away! Just check in a week or so... it would be nice if we could rip it out of the registry, packages folders and programs folders... but as of yet, haven't gotten that far... and I certainly have the time to keep trying to figure out just how to do that... so tasks sceduled and blocks are going to have to work for now. And actually it can be removed from the packages folder - where it installs from... but that is just extra work... I am after the files associated with the program.... package files will return every update etc etc... so whats the point.

    I will try your idea as well on the next machine I block on.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-25T02:04:34+00:00

    found another way to block it i hope,
    since I use a virus program where you can go in and manage programs and see programs that are trusted and not,
    in the middle of the list is ai.exe, you can right-click on it and block and set it to not be trusted and block start

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-06-25T01:38:56+00:00

    YRP_1161 - On fully updated systems, Windows and Office updates... we are seeing some variations - you don't see what I do see with the same OS and Office versions. Nor sure why this is... The primary machine I am using for all of this is a relatively new Win 11 Pro install... Not going to chase that, its just a curious thing and I'll see what I can do to deal with webview2 soon.

    That's weird that quite similar installs can behave so differently, but MS sometimes rolls out features in a staggered fashion so I will definitely be keeping a vigilant watch over this.

    I don't think you should touch webview2.

    We use a custom software application unrelated to Office and the developer is using webview2 to display data in certain panels, much to my annoyance as the way it displays the data is nowhere near as good as it was before.

    When I talked to support about the change and how it impacted me they claimed this was how the software was being progressed for newer versions of Windows and the widest audience compatibility. I got the impression that MS is pushing this onto developers so it's likely that stopping webview2 and later from executing might break packages that need it to function.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-22T16:56:54+00:00

    YRP_1161 - On fully updated systems, Windows and Office updates... we are seeing some variations - you don't see what I do see with the same OS and Office versions. Nor sure why this is... The primary machine I am using for all of this is a relatively new Win 11 Pro install... Not going to chase that, its just a curious thing and I'll see what I can do to deal with webview2 soon.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments