Microsoft Ditches Auto-Text Prediction in Word and Outlook

Microsoft has made a change to its popular Word and Outlook software, disabling the automatic text prediction feature by default on all major platforms. The company had introduced this feature, which suggests possible words or phrases as users type, to help them write faster. However, user feedback was predominantly critical, with many finding the suggestions distracting.

The new model will be rolled out gradually, starting with web versions of Word and Outlook, while locally installed applications will receive the update with certain software versions. Users who want to use text predictions can still activate them in the settings of Word or Outlook, marking a switch from opt-out to an opt-in principle.

Microsoft justifies this move by giving users more control over their writing environment and standardizing settings across platforms. The company aims to provide users with flexibility and customization options, allowing them to choose what features they want to use.