Using Bing Chat plugins? Prepare to share your data with them

A while ago, Microsoft announced that Edge will no longer support a plethora of useful plugins, including the Grammar Tools, Citations, and Math Solver. The news didn’t last for long, however, because recently, Edge insiders found out that the Redmond-based tech giant is bringing some of these plugins back.

Only this time they will be integrated within Bing Chat, the popular AI tool developed by Microsoft. And, as this wouldn’t be enough, it seems that Windows Copilot, the hotly-anticipated AI tool finally released to Windows 11 a week ago, is getting plugins as well.

In a way, this is natural given the fact that Windows Copilot is based on Bing Chat. However, according to Windows enthusiast, @Leopeva64, Microsoft added a short statement regarding the share of data with these plugins.

Data will be shared with the plugins you choose.

Microsoft

Bing Chat users should be getting this statement, which explicitly makes it clear that any data shared with Bing Chat, will be shared with these plugins as well.

Will the Bing Chat plugins’ data sharing affect Windows Copilot too?

Well, considering Windows Copilot is based on Bing Chat, and the plugins that you get on Bing Chat can be easily acquired in Windows Copilot as well, the answer is yes.

Windows Copilot will be affected by this policy as well, meaning that all the data you share with Copilot, while using plugins, will be shared with these plugins too.

But, at least, Microsoft makes it clear to users, so they can make informed decisions on what to share or not to share with Bing Chat.

They also have the option to disable the said plugins, and using Bing Chat without them won’t specifically put them at any risk. This is if we’re not taking into account the data they’re sharing with Bing Chat.

There has been a discussion about users’ personal data being used to train AIs, and the browser giant, Mozzila, even initiated a petition with the goal of asking Microsoft what it plans to do with personal data.

Microsoft’s new terms and agreements, which went into effect last month, are ambiguous about it. However, one thing is certain: you have the option to limit to spread of your personal data by not using plugins on Bing Chat.

Or, even better, don’t share personal data with Bing Chat.