Author Topic: New Windows AI feature records everything you’ve done on your PC (Read 1928 times)

Elderberry · « **on:** May 21, 2024, 08:53:43 pm »

ars Technica by Benj Edwards - 5/20/2024

Recall uses AI features "to take images of your active screen every few seconds."

At a Build conference event on Monday, Microsoft revealed a new AI-powered feature called "Recall" for Copilot+ PCs that will allow Windows 11 users to search and retrieve their past activities on their PC. To make it work, Recall records everything users do on their PC, including activities in apps, communications in live meetings, and websites visited for research. Despite encryption and local storage, the new feature raises privacy concerns for certain Windows users.

"Recall uses Copilot+ PC advanced processing capabilities to take images of your active screen every few seconds," Microsoft says on its website. "The snapshots are encrypted and saved on your PC’s hard drive. You can use Recall to locate the content you have viewed on your PC using search or on a timeline bar that allows you to scroll through your snapshots."

By performing a Recall action, users can access a snapshot from a specific time period, providing context for the event or moment they are searching for. It also allows users to search through teleconference meetings they've participated in and videos watched using an AI-powered feature that transcribes and translates speech.

More: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/microsofts-new-recall-feature-will-record-everything-you-do-on-your-pc/

Elon Musk
@elonmusk

This is a Black Mirror episode.

Definitely turning this “feature” off.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1792690964672450971

DB · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2024, 08:54:50 pm »

Assuming you can really turn it off...

DefiantMassRINO · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2024, 08:58:46 pm »

Man, that is going to kill I/O (input/output) worse than Search Indexer.

Elderberry · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2024, 09:01:49 pm »

One more reason for me to stay on Win-10.

DB · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2024, 09:02:29 pm »

Quote from: DefiantMassRINO on May 21, 2024, 08:58:46 pm

Man, that is going to kill I/O (input/output) worse than Search Indexer.

And fill your disk with crap quickly...

libertybele · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2024, 09:42:32 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on May 21, 2024, 09:01:49 pm

One more reason for me to stay on Win-10.

They'll find a way to spy on us anyways -- and I'm sure that they already are.

Timber Rattler · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2024, 10:03:16 pm »

Just wait until the FBI starts issuing warrants for this stuff.

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2024, 10:04:04 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on May 21, 2024, 09:01:49 pm

One more reason for me to stay on Win-10.

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2024, 10:04:37 pm »

Quote from: libertybele on May 21, 2024, 09:42:32 pm

They'll find a way to spy on us anyways -- and I'm sure that they already are.

roamer_1 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2024, 10:51:21 pm »

Quote from: DB on May 21, 2024, 08:54:50 pm

Assuming you can really turn it off...

I hacked a reg key into my media box to shut off copilot on Win10... I suspect it is similarly configured in Win11

roamer_1 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2024, 10:52:41 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on May 21, 2024, 09:01:49 pm

One more reason for me to stay on Win-10.

Copilot is already on Win10... It came down in updates

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2024, 11:10:13 pm »

Quote from: roamer_1 on May 21, 2024, 10:52:41 pm

Copilot is already on Win10... It came down in updates

How to get rid of it?

Cyber Liberty · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2024, 11:37:34 pm »

Quote from: Timber Rattler on May 21, 2024, 10:03:16 pm

Just wait until the FBI starts issuing warrants for this stuff.

They won't bother with pesky warrants. The gummint will just call its buddy Bill Gates and he will hand over whatever they wants. He's already done it.

Bigun · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2024, 11:43:02 pm »

Quote from: Cyber Liberty on May 21, 2024, 11:37:34 pm

They won't bother with pesky warrants. The gummint will just call its buddy Bill Gates and he will hand over whatever they wants. He's already done it.

They probably already have the keys to every back door known to man.

Elderberry · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2024, 12:21:39 am »

Quote from: roamer_1 on May 21, 2024, 10:52:41 pm

Copilot is already on Win10... It came down in updates

I don't think it's on my machine yet.

Quote

Windows 10 Pro edition devices on version 22H2 that are managed by organizations will not be included in the initial rollout of Copilot in Windows. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education edition devices on version 22H2 will also not be included in the initial rollout of Copilot in Windows.

roamer_1 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2024, 12:26:48 am »

Quote from: Smokin Joe on May 21, 2024, 11:10:13 pm

How to get rid of it?

I dunno if I should post code.

It's just a reg file... But if a feller don't know what he's doing...
Not you, but somebody else...

Fishrrman · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2024, 12:32:32 am »

"This is a Black Mirror episode.
Definitely turning this “feature” off."

For now... if you can.
In the future...?

Mac user here since 1987 -- going on 40 years!
This isn't to say that at some point, the MacOS may "offer" that, as well...

roamer_1 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2024, 12:43:11 am »

DON'T DO THIS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT:

In Windows 10 (and I assume 11)
Logged in with administrator privileges
Make sure you can see extensions.

Open notepad

plug ONLY this into it (between the cuts, not the cuts):

----------------------------------------------8<
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

‘[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
“TurnOffWindowsCopilot”=dword:00000001`

‘[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
“TurnOffWindowsCopilot”=dword:00000001`
----------------------------------------------8<

Save as anything.txt, but for this exercise, call it Disable_Copilot.txt And save it anywhere, but for this exercise, to your desktop...

Close.

Go to desktop.
Find Disable_Copilot.txt
RClick =>Rename

Rename it Disable_Copilot.reg
Run it. (doubleclick)

Tell win to STFU and take it. Yeah, yeah... blah blah. Take it you POS.
may require restart

After: Rename .reg to .re_ (or some such) or delete the file.

@Smokin Joe

roamer_1 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2024, 12:49:41 am »

Addendum: Dunno if that works within a multi-user box. It may only disable for the current user. It takes both code strings (HKLM and HKCU) to shut it off for me.

roamer_1 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2024, 01:00:49 am »

Quote from: Elderberry on May 22, 2024, 12:21:39 am

I don't think it's on my machine yet.

Huh. It came down on mine, or most of mine. Some are clinet/server, some are workgroup. Doesn't seem to matter here.

It's still on everything here except my main media machine... Damn thing kept coming up every time I swiped left, and it drove me nuts. So I murdered it.

But it's on this laptop and literally never pops up.
Dunno the difference, except the TV box is run from a bluetooth KB.

corbe · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2024, 01:43:22 am »

mountaineer · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2024, 01:53:49 am »

We still use Windows 7 on our home computer. I had 10 on the 'puter at work and didn't like it.

corbe · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2024, 02:10:56 am »

I chastise the few Customers I have still running it constantly, for clinging on to that RELIC~Windows 7, @mountaineer, it's a bi1ch to support

But hey, 'Whatever gets you through the Night', I'm Happy.

DB · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2024, 02:14:13 am »

Quote from: roamer_1 on May 21, 2024, 10:51:21 pm

I hacked a reg key into my media box to shut off copilot on Win10... I suspect it is similarly configured in Win11

Any problems after shutting it off? It sucks.

roamer_1 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2024, 02:16:32 am »

Anything I ain't supposed to be doing is done away from home on a *nix box.