AI.exe: What is it & should you remove it?

Is it malicious?

What Is

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by Rafly Gilang 

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Key notes

  • Some users are worried that Microsoft is doing something sneaky behind their backs.
  • A Redditor spotted a process called ai.exe as a part of the Outlook desktop client.
  • So, what does it actually mean?

If you found a process called AI.exe running on your system, don’t panic. In this article, we’ll dig into what the file is all about, what it does, and should you remove it or not. 

What is AI.exe?

AI.exe is an executable file that’s run by Microsoft in Windows 11’s ecosystem every time users open Outlook, Word, Excel, or any 365-related applications. 

When you open your Task Manager, you can see that this file is described as Artificial Intelligence (AI) Host for the Microsoft® Windows® Operating System and Platform x64 with a size of a little over 710-something KBs. 

As explained best by Microsoft’s Joshua Burkholder, AI.exe receives inputs for an Office app and runs it, mainly for automated corrections such as grammar, pronunciation, punctuation, etc. 

ai.exe: The executable used to host ai.dll. This executable receives inputs from aitrx.dll in an Office desktop app, runs those inputs through ai.dll to get the associated outputs, and transmits those outputs back to aitrx.dll in the Office desktop app.

So, how do I know if this is safe? Read along to find out how. 

How to check if AI.exe is legit?

1. When an Office app is opened (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), right-click on your taskbar and click Task Manager.

2. On Details, look for AI.exe.

3. Right click and click Properties

4. If the description is Artificial Intelligence (AI) Host for the Microsoft® Windows® Operating System and Platform x64., then it’s legit.

This makes more sense, especially since Microsoft has been rigorously testing its AI innovations to their limits. Not too long ago, Redmond officials announced their plans to launch an AI-powered Copilot feature for all Office 365 apps. 

Let us know in the comments if you find these tips helpful! 

Rafly Gilang

Rafly Gilang Shield

Rafly is a journalist with growing experience, ranging from technology, business, social, and culture. A holder of the Romanian government scholarship, his writing has been published in several local and national publications.