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Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

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Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#41
I don't want this feature. I have LaTeX documents on my computer containing my personal thoughts. Some of them I want to keep to myself. And some of them contain my own ideas that I find embarrassing. I don't want to hand those documents over to Microsoft servers, nor do I want them used for AI training. I want them to know that these deeply personal thoughts are mine.

Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#43

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Why do they do this? Is HN such a worthwhile target for astroturfing that people farm reputation with AI comments? And if so, why not add some instruction to get rid of that obnoxious style?

Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#45
> Instead of letting an agent act directly as you, Windows spins up this extra workspace, gives it limited access (like specific folders such as Documents or Desktop), and keeps its actions isolated and auditable.

> Each agent can have its own workspace and access rules, so what one agent can see or do doesn’t automatically apply to others, and you stay in control of what they’re allowed to touch.

This actually sounds thoughtful. I know it's super popular to crap on MS about AI since the Windows Recall feature, but at this point it just seems like intentional bad faith. This feature here is something you'd have to turn on, anyway.

Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#46
post #11

>Agent workspace is a separate, contained Windows session made just for AI agents, where they get their own account, desktop, and permissions so they can click, type, open apps, and work on your files in the background while you keep using your normal desktop. Instead of letting an agent act directly as you, Windows spins up this extra workspace, gives it limited access (like specific folders such as Documents or Des…

It is only a matter of time before recall is shipped quietly in an update

It shipped in an update over six months ago? https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/wind...

Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#47
post #41

I don't want this feature. I have LaTeX documents on my computer containing my personal thoughts. Some of them I want to keep to myself. And some of them contain my own ideas that I find embarrassing. I don't want to hand those documents over to Microsoft servers, nor do I want them used for AI training. I want them to know that these deeply personal thoughts are mine.

This is the reason that no longer sync my notes or journals from my Linux devices to my last Windows install on my desktop. I dual boot Linux on it as well and I encrypt the Linux disk so that windows can't scan the files on it just in case for the rare occasions I boot into Windows to access a program that isn't available on Linux.

Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#49
post #22
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree that the headline is clickbaity. It's true. The agents run in the background and have access to your personal data. I don't care how "auditable" an agent is, I don't want my personal information slurped up by AI and shipped out to microsoft's servers. Full stop. This is just another spying data exfiltration but with a hype con built into it. Just because I can see what it read and shipped off, doesn't mean…

This should be an installable application for those who want it, not part of the operating system. This is exactly why I'm switching every one of my computers over to Linux, and I'm going to recommend others do the same.

Fair point. I didn't even consider that possibility. I get mildly surprised every time i find it's possible to set up Windows with a local user only.

Re: Windows 11 adds AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders

#50
post #45

> Instead of letting an agent act directly as you, Windows spins up this extra workspace, gives it limited access (like specific folders such as Documents or Desktop), and keeps its actions isolated and auditable. > Each agent can have its own workspace and access rules, so what one agent can see or do doesn’t automatically apply to others, and you stay in control of what they’re allowed to touch. This actually sound…

Interesting that you see the sheer amount of criticism, week after week, and assume it must be bad faith by microsoft critics rather than bad faith by microsoft.
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