Microsoft Copilot for Word Can Copy Hidden Prompts Into New Documents
The Hacker News reported that Microsoft Copilot for Word can copy hidden prompts into new documents. The article, published on July 30, 2026, describes how the AI assistant embedded in Word may carry over hidden prompts when a user creates a new document, potentially exposing the content of those prompts. The report does not specify the exact mechanism or provide technical details, but it indicates that the behavior occurs during the document creation process. This could lead to unintended disclosure of prompt information, which might be sensitive if users have embedded custom instructions or system prompts. The article does not mention any official response from Microsoft or provide remediation steps. The finding underscores a potential privacy concern for users relying on Copilot for document generation, as hidden prompts could be inadvertently transferred to new files.
Developers using Copilot for Word may unintentionally leak hidden prompt content into new documents.