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Key takeaways

• A Copilot setting lets the AI access data from other Microsoft products.
• The goal is to help personalize your Copilot conversations.
• You can disable this if you're worried about your privacy.

Like many AIs, Microsoft Copilot likes to learn more about you to better personalize your chats. The AI does this by remembering your conversation history and the details you purposely share. But one setting in Copilot may also be pulling in data from other Microsoft products without your knowledge.

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Known as "Microsoft usage data," the setting lets Copilot refer to your data from Bing, MSN, Edge, and other Microsoft products that you've used, as spotted by Windows Latest. Accessible at the Copilot website and through the mobile app, the setting appears to be relatively new and is part of the Memory option in Copilot. This option allows the AI to recall your conversation history, any facts and instructions you share, and certain data from Microsoft products, all in an effort to personalize Copilot.

Certainly, this memory feature can help guide your conversations. Maybe you want to refer to a topic from a past conversation without having to explain it all again. Perhaps you're seeking advice on a personal or professional matter, and the AI's knowledge of you can better address the situation.

Are you putting your privacy at risk?

That sounds fine, but what about the downsides? Are you putting your privacy at risk if Copilot knows too much about you? And what does Microsoft do with the data beyond personalizing your chats?

In an FAQ about Copilot, Microsoft promises to use your conversations only for the limited purposes detailed in its Privacy Statement. That means the data will be recorded to monitor Copilot's performance, troubleshoot issues, diagnose bugs, prevent abuse, and improve the product. The company says it won't use your information for AI model training. In fact, that's a separate setting that you can and should disable.

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Further, the Copilot personalization setting in Copilot doesn't control whether you receive targeted ads, according to Microsoft. That's also a separate option that you can disable by signing in to your Microsoft Account page and heading to the Personalized ads & offers section under Privacy.

Still, privacy concerns are natural, especially since the personalization option may be enabled automatically, according to another Microsoft Copilot FAQ. When I checked Copilot on my PC, I did find that the settings here were turned on. In this case, you may want to disable the option, especially if your questions to Copilot don't depend on its knowledge of you.

To check, browse to the Copilot website or open the app for iOS or Android and make sure you're signed in with your Microsoft account. At the website, select your account name at the bottom of the left pane, click Settings, and then select Memory. In the mobile app, tap the three-lined hamburger icon to display the left pane, tap your name, and then select Memory.

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You'll see the general option for "Personalization and memory" and two settings -- one for "Facts you've shared" and the new one for "Microsoft usage data." To disable these, first turn off the switch for Microsoft usage data, and then turn it off for Personalization and memory. To remove all items in memory, select the button for "Delete all memory." If you've shared any personal details with Copilot, select the Edit button next to "Facts you've shared." You can then delete any details you don't want the AI to remember.

If you do keep these options turned on, be careful what you tell Copilot in a conversation. Don't reveal any sensitive or confidential details. Even Microsoft advises you to avoid certain personal data, such as your sexual orientation or health status.

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