**You Need to Disable This Unwelcome New Microsoft Feature Immediately – Here’s Why**
A recently identified feature in Microsoft Copilot allows the AI chatbot to collect data regarding your usage of various Microsoft applications. Windows Latest was the first to announce the finding of the toggle, which is enabled by default. According to the settings page, it enables “Copilot to utilize information from Bing, MSN, Edge, and other Microsoft products you’ve interacted with” when activated.
This effectively means that your cookies and browsing data from Microsoft Edge, as well as your search history in Bing, can be utilized to shape Copilot’s responses. This is merely another instance of Microsoft integrating its AI capabilities into its other programs. It was somewhat anticipated as the company sought to remain competitive with others like Perplexity and Google, particularly since Microsoft began promoting Edge as an AI browser due to its Copilot integration.
While this toggle may appear beneficial, there is no clear indication of precisely what data Copilot may be extracting from your other Microsoft services. Thus, it might be prudent to disable this feature to prevent any inadvertent sharing of personal information and private data with the AI chatbot.
**Enhancing Copilot’s memory**
This capability seems to be part of Microsoft’s efforts to enhance Copilot’s memory, making the AI chatbot more efficient for users. That’s a logical aim, but the fact that this feature has been activated by default without any notification from Microsoft is concerning. Moreover, the absence of a detailed outline of what type of data is being accessed or which Microsoft products it is sourced from is also a bit alarming.
Many Windows users do not utilize Copilot regularly, and some have even searched for methods to completely remove it – users were delighted last year when a Windows 11 bug uninstalled Copilot for some. Nevertheless, Microsoft persists in promoting its AI features, enabling many by default. When Microsoft imposes these features on users — especially those that involve accessing potentially sensitive information — it only intensifies the growing negative perception surrounding AI.
There is also the worry that this feature might one day extract data from your Windows installation. This could include anything from information on personal files to specifics about your system’s hardware — all of which could potentially be exploited by malicious actors. We already understand that some AI can install malware on Windows PCs, and it’s also concerning that even if you don’t use Copilot, your data might still be collected by it.
**How to prevent Copilot from monitoring you**
To disable the new memory usage functionality, you will need to visit the Copilot website in your browser. From there, sign into your Microsoft account by clicking the profile icon at the screen’s bottom left. Once logged in, navigate to the Memory section in the Settings menu.
The toggle you need to locate is called **Microsoft usage data**. Ensure the toggle is switched off, preventing Copilot from collecting data. You can also erase any data that Copilot has previously collected about you by selecting **Delete all memory** at the bottom of this Settings page. Remember that if you do use Copilot, deleting that memory could hinder the chatbot’s effectiveness in performing tasks related to your data.