How to disable copilot on microsoft office (excel, word, ppt) on Macbook

I think it's very important that all Microsoft users who're disadvantaged by this unreasonable and non-negotiable Copilot 'invasion' now take the matter outside of this Microsoft echo-chamber and complain to software reviewers, news outlets that have tech reviews etc, and other publications that might help broadcast this groundswell of user discontent. This is important because Microsoft have been given a lengthy opportunity to but have not heeded or replied sensibly to our complaints. I'm sure that there would be tech reporters who're interested in the topic:

'From late 2024 'Microsoft forces Office365 users in Australia, New Zealand, and some other countries (they're listed among the messages here) to use Microsoft AI / Copilot which reads users' confidential documents and intellectual property and places an unsolicited and unremovable icon in the document margins. This is an unacceptable breach of paid subscribers' privacy and copyright.' Many users such as academics, students, government employees, creative writers, and others CANNOT have AI involved with their work...'

Also, just a tip: each time you 'like' and rate a message on this community echo chamber that they've dumped us in, the Microsoft AI / algorithm etc (I don't know what to call it) probably considers the issue 'resolved' or at least 'helped'. I reckon (and I might be wrong) just write your message but don't rate or click stars etc.

LibreOffice has a very similar style to Word, much more than Pages, and it's free. It uses drop down menus instead of ribbons, which I detest.

I have cancelled 365 Family and will continue to use an external drive, iCloud, Dropbox Free and Google Drive for syncing/backup.

OneDrive syncing is very fast, but iCloud will do.

I hope Copilot and "Here's AI whether you like it or not." crashes and burns - as it deserves. I also hope MS loses a lot of subscriptions because of it.

In the Service & Subscription area there is only an option to go to Copilot Pro. There is no option to switch it off. There is a new AU$179 option which includes AI but there is a $139 option which has no AI. This will be my selection to rid myself of Copilot. When I need assistance I will ask for it. Don’t push Copilot on me. I will now never even try this feature.

According to Copilot itself, these are the steps to disable it. As by way of demonstrating why we all want to disable it, these steps are completely incorrect. "AI Generated content may be incorrect". Oh the irony:

"Disabling Copilot in Microsoft Word on Mac OS

Disabling Copilot in Microsoft Word on a Mac is a straightforward process. Whether you wish to focus without distractions or simply prefer to work without the assistance of Copilot, following these steps will help you achieve that.

Begin by launching Microsoft Word on your Mac. You can find it in your Applications folder or search for it using Spotlight.

Once Microsoft Word is open, navigate to the top menu bar and click on Word. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.

In the Preferences window, find and click on the Add-ins section. This will display a list of all the add-ins currently installed in Microsoft Word.

At the bottom of the Add-ins window, you will see a drop-down menu labeled Manage:. Select COM Add-ins from this menu, then click on the Go... button next to it.

In the COM Add-ins window, you will see a list of available add-ins. Find Copilot in the list and uncheck the box next to it. After that, click on the OK button to apply your changes.

To ensure that the changes take effect, close Microsoft Word and then reopen it. Copilot should now be disabled.

By following these steps, you can easily disable Copilot in Microsoft Word on your Mac OS. If you wish to re-enable it in the future, you can follow the same steps and check the box next to Copilot in the COM Add-ins window."

Unfortunately, your success has not been mine, although I wanted to thank you for giving me hope.

I have a Family sub that I no longer need, but found today that I lose my TB of cloud storage if I resort to Single, so here I remain, with a regrettable rise in product and service dissatisfaction.

I have also discovered today that my annual sub will rise by 29% in 2025. It is the first major rise in years. If it's to pay for a program (co-pilot) that is proving to be not just controversial but infuriatingly intrusive, then I will add to the rapidly growing list of subscribers who are, to put it mildly, disappointed enough to appeal on this chatline, hoping that MS reads, hears and acts with genuine consumer interest and ethic.

MS, if you're really reading and hearing the appeals, please provide a super friendly - accurate - option to remove co-pilot and reduce the sub accordingly, if applicable. Indeed, make it clear that you're asking us and make it clear we can say NO! I would even accept having the option to ask for reminders every 6 months or more.

Of all the programs you have chosen to inflict on users (your customers and clients), you have chosen the most controversial!

Along with scores of others, I absolutely do not want what is proving to be a pestilent invasion! I might, in future, want it and to have the option to simply turn it on, within 5 minutes max, or even pay for an upgrade after a trial, but MS's decision to impose this system - incessantly - on people is, frankly and disappointingly, obnoxious!

Finally, while I'm here (for the first time), I'm astounded that for all MS's sophistication and global dominance, it's system does not recognise that when I've signed in, I clearly have a 365 subscription, so why on earth do the pages I'm on keep asking me to buy or sign up? I understand if I haven't signed in, but really MS!