My thanks to Debby Gies (author DG Kaye) for alerting me to this latest AI threat to writers.
She shared a post from Kathy Steinemann, author of The Writer’s Lexicon Series, (a fantastic resource for writers), warning that those who, like me, use MS Word as our working tool, need to be aware that Microsoft has set its AIs to automatically go through everything written in Word.
In that vein, and following on from the warning about Facebook doing the same thing, and the possible negative consequences to creatives, I’m sharing the process you have available to switch this off!
Open Word. Click on FILE, and then scroll down the left hand side. Click on MORE.
This will give you 2 menu items. Click on OPTIONS
This brings up the following pop up. Click on TRUST CENTRE
Now click on TRUST CENTRE SETTINGS
Next, click on PRIVACY OPTIONS
And then PRIVACY SETTINGS
Scroll down this page to reach CONNECTED EXPERIENCES
Look at ‘Turn on experiences that analyze your content’.
You will find the box I have pointed out automatically checked – you aren’t given the option to choose, it’s already done for you. You CAN, however, chose to UNcheck it, as you can see I have already done.
After that, it’s just a matter of closing Word and starting it again to confirm your choices.
It’s buried deep, people. Thank you so much to those who have shared this info. I for one, do not want everything I write analyzed and potentially scraped for use elsewhere, by an AI bot!
deborahjay 
Done. Thank you!
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👍
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Rather scary how these things are hidden away from us so we don’t know we are being taken advantage of, and all in the name of ‘progress’ and ‘for our own good’. 😦
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Thanks, Deborah. I’m going to follow those steps right now!
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Wise decision. Go for it!
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Done.
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👍
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Thanks for the mention Deb, and an important share. I’m sharing around the socials. ❤
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Thank you for sharing it in the first place!
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A must! I’ll be adding your post to my December writer tips. ❤
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Wow, you’re right. That was deeply embedded. I followed your steps, and thanks for the clear instructions. I’ve also bookmarked this in case I need it in future! Thanks so much, Deb, for alerting us to this.
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They really don’t want us to notice what they are doing, do they?
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No, they don’t.
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Thank you!
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You are welcome
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