Generative AI, as with any other advancement in tech, is a double-edged sword. On one hand, those who can see its value will no doubt use it frequently, but on the other, there are privacy concerns surrounding it, especially when the tech relies on cloud processing. This was quite the major issue with the Recall feature Microsoft introduced with its Copilot Plus PCs. And it looks like a lesson was learned as a result, as the company may be making it so that Windows 11 lets you restrict generative AI access to apps.
This feature was spotted in the Insider Preview Build 26236 of Windows 11, as first spotted by a user on X, previously Twitter, going by the handle @alex290292. This is specifically found under Privacy & security options, then selecting Generative AI. From here, there are two options, with the first allowing any user of the device, be it a desktop PC or a laptop, to use generative AI features. The second one, and the one pertinent to the topic at hand, lets you “choose which apps can use generative AI”.
Build 26236 adds a new subpage to Privacy & security settings that lets you control whether apps can use generative AI, thanks to @alex290292 for the catch. https://t.co/9lk314Xf73 pic.twitter.com/mEjtD2QT20
— PhantomOcean3 🌳 (@PhantomOfEarth) June 12, 2024
A third option, as spotted by @PhantomOfEarth, shows a third option which reads Recent activity. Sounds pretty straightforward, and can likely be used as an extension of the second option when necessary. Finally, @XenoPanther has spotted a new string related to generative AI access in Windows 11 Preview Build 26236. While it’s unclear what this does, XDA speculates that this may be a popup that tells you an app is trying to use generative AI tools, and you get the option to allow or deny access from there, much like the UAC security popup.
For the privacy conscious generative AI enthusiasts, these all look to be great additions. Though as hardware start to trend towards local processing for generative AI, an option to allow apps access for all on-device tasks and only ask for permission for cloud processes would be a convenient option to have. At any rate, as these have only appeared in a preview build, it remains to be seen when, or even if, these options will be carried over to the general Windows 11 builds.
(Source: @PhantomOfEarth / X, XDA, Microsoft)
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