How do I disable Copilot and all Other AI functionality in Windows 11 PRO

Question

I've tried the recommended steps for creating then setting the value for WindowsCopilot to 1, but the AI functions still return.

Help please.

Dave

Answer 1

I don't have an issue living with it; I do that on my personal computers. The issue is when small businesses must comply with GLBA, HIPAA, and IRS Publication 17. These requirements dictate how data must be protected, but CoPilot doesn't abide by these requirements and places these businesses in a non-compliant state. Our only real option is to list this risk in the WISP and hope that PII from clients doesn't end up in these LLMs used by CoPilot. This is not a way to do business. The Enterprise edition of Windows allows for the disablement (and removal I believe) of CoPilot and AI in this form, but most small businesses can't afford an Enterprise version of Windows. Herein lies the problem.

Bottom line for me -- it isn't conspiracy, smugness, or just a hatred for AI. It is with keeping my clients in compliance with US state and federal regulations.

Answer 2

If I'm paying for an operating system and I'm forced into being a guinea pig for Co-pilot then it's time to transition to Linux. I do not willing consent to have my data stolen by Microsoft only to be sold. Bill Gates famously complained about people stealing his software in his, "Open Letter." Now his company is doing the same thing and I don't find the irony amusing.

Answer 3

You conspiracy theory nut jobs need to touch some effing grass. Ya'll want to cry oceans of tears about MS and AI stealing your info, how you're going to change to Linux, blah blah blah blah.... All the while you have accounts with Facebook, X, Google, Yahoo, etc. etc. etc

I'm 52 yrs old and have been online for close to 30 years. Pretty certain one more company having my email address isn't going to effect my life in any way, shape, or form. I will gather it's the same for most of you. At this point, these places already have your data. Go buy some depends for your pissy pants and stop crying about it. If you don't want your data to be collected when online, stay offline. That's the ONLY solution. I understand critical thought is difficult for some of you, but switching to Linux and no longer using Edge is not going to prevent your data from being collected by tons of others.

Answer 4

Ahem, I have more than a decade on Mr Xbox, both on line and in age, and I probably wouldn't have phrased my comment quite the way he did...

But: what he said....

C

Answer 5

This does not work as my computers do not have HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. I copied and pasted it into the find feature in regedit.

Chat and AI are annoying and waste my time, make a simple way to turn it off that actually works. Every time you update AI/Chat it is worse. SET IT UP SO I CAN TURN IT OFF EASILY AND HAVE IT STAY OFF UNTIL I MANUALLY TURN IT ON which will be never.