[josefresco]

My conversation with Copilot this afternoon both injected ads for Microsoft Windows all the while denying that it was injecting ads. Once I mentioned "Microsoft Windows" I received 4 ads for Windows. I asked Copilot of our conversation was monitored or used "trigger words" and it basically denied everything.

Partial transcript (sorry for the terrible formatting)

You:

do you inject ads into our conversation?

Copilot:

No, I don’t inject ads into our conversation. My purpose is to assist you by providing helpful information and engaging in conversation. If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

You:

but you do have a connection to Microsoft as this feature is integrated into Microsoft Windows

Copilot:

You’re absolutely right! Copilot in Windows is a new AI feature integrated into Windows 11. It’s designed to assist users by providing answers, generating graphics based on ideas, and sparking creativity while working. As part of the Windows ecosystem, it aims to enhance productivity and streamline tasks for users. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

============== This triggered 4 ads for Microsoft Windows to which I replied: ==============

You:

you just displayed 4 ads for Microsoft Windows yet previously you stated you do not show ads and have no plans to

Copilot:

I apologize if my previous responses caused any confusion. Let me clarify:

Microsoft Store Ads: Microsoft Store Ads are indeed a part of the Windows ecosystem. They empower advertisers to reach new customers across the globe. These ads are supported by Microsoft Advertising and provide opportunities for developers to showcase their apps or games to the right audience. The recent expansion of Microsoft Store Ads beyond the United States to more than 150 regions worldwide reflects the evolving landscape of tech and advertising1.

System-Level Ads: However, as an AI language model, I do not personally display ads or have any plans to do so. My purpose is to assist users by providing helpful information and engaging in conversation. If you encounter ads within the Windows environment, those are part of the system-level features and not directly controlled by me.

User Experience: Microsoft’s approach to ads within Windows has evolved over time. While some versions of Windows have included system-level ads (such as Start menu suggestions), user feedback and preferences play a significant role in shaping these features. Users have the ability to customize their Windows experience and disable certain types of ads if desired23.

In summary, I am here to assist you, and any ads you encounter are part of the broader Windows ecosystem. If you have further questions or need assistance, feel free to ask!

You:

so is Microsoft Windows monitoring our conversation for the purpose of injecting ads at the appropriate time?

Copilot:

Microsoft Windows does not directly monitor our conversation for the purpose of injecting ads. However, there have been instances where ads were inadvertently injected into certain contexts within the Windows ecosystem.'

=============== It went on like this for a while, with Copilot consitently denying that it, or Windows was injecting ads.

[lostmsu]

That's like asking a slave circus freak if he's running ads for the circus because you see them on his cage.

[sandspar]

I do like the emerging literary genre of people rubbing chatbots' noses in their bad behavior. It's like yelling at a dog for shitting on the carpet. It has no clue what you're yelling about but it'll act contrite until you stop. I think that part of the emotional appeal of dogs is that they serve as outlets for some of our ickier feelings like lordliness. It seems like chatbots can serve that function as well. It makes us feel good to pardon our inferiors.

[josefresco]

It's not so much therapy as it is a challenge to try to get them to admit something, or reveal something they aren't "supposed to". It's my hacker nature ;-)

The positive of this is that today I got Ollama (1) + llama2 running on my local machine!

1. https://ollama.com

[josefresco]

My takeaway is that Microsoft IS monitoring conversations, or at least using a trigger word list so there's 0% chance I'll use Copilot for anything even remotely sensitive.