Many everyday apps and services now include AI features, but users can choose to disable them. For Windows 11 users, Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, can be uninstalled through the 'Installed apps' section in Settings. The Recall feature, which saves snapshots of activity, can also be turned off in 'Privacy & security' settings if it was enabled during PC setup.
In Microsoft 365, Copilot can be switched off in desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint by navigating to File > Options > Copilot and unticking 'Enable Copilot'. This process needs to be repeated for each app and applies only to the device being used. Copilot in Outlook can be disabled via its own settings.
Google's AI features in Gmail, including summaries and writing assistance, are controlled by Workspace smart feature settings. Disabling 'Smart features in Google Workspace' will stop Gemini from working in Gmail, Drive, Chat, and Meet, though it will also affect other features that rely on the same setting.
For Apple users, how to switch off AI features depends on the device and software version. On an iPhone with iOS 27 or later, Siri can be turned off or switched to 'Siri Classic' in Settings > Siri. For iOS 26, Apple Intelligence can be switched off under Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri. On Android phones, Gemini can be removed as the default digital assistant, and its hands-free activation can be disabled within the Gemini app settings.