- Microsoft Teams will now allow users to disable its artificial intelligence tools
- Copilot, Facilitator and Intelligent Summary all affected
- Users will be able to choose which AI tools they want in Teams
Microsoft has apparently backtracked on its plans to introduce a number of artificial intelligence tools to Teams after facing a huge backlash from users.
In recent weeks, the company has revealed several new AI-powered Teams features that it claims will help increase user productivity and efficiency, offering tools such as update tools, note taking, and even translation.
However, after an apparent backlash from users, the company says it will now offer a simple option to disable its “Meeting AI” features on your calls.
Turn off AI in Microsoft Teams
The news was outlined in a management center post, seemingly admitting that the company may have overstated its AI expectations.
“Microsoft Teams will add an in-meeting option for licensed hosts and presenters to enable or disable meeting AI (copilot, facilitator, summary) during live meetings,” the company said. “The launch begins in early July 2026, with no changes to existing licensing or compliance requirements.”
Microsoft also demonstrated what the feature would look like in a Teams meeting, with a screenshot showing a toggle to individually disable features like Copilot, Facilitator, and Intelligent Recap, or disable all tools at once.
The company also noted that its Meeting AI tools will only appear after your administrators approve them, so specific policy considerations will always be considered, and the option will not appear if Meeting AI is specifically disabled by policy.
The news comes shortly after Microsoft revealed Facilitator, a new AI-powered tool that will seek to help better manage Teams calls, filling any potential knowledge gaps that arise during a meeting.
This has already led some observers to worry about the privacy and security limits of the tool; However, Microsoft noted that you will need to turn it on to hear and see all of your meetings, so you know when to interfere and participate.
The toggle is rolling out now and should be completed by mid-July 2026, with Teams users on all devices including Windows, macOS, mobile, and web.
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