Google has updated its privacy policy, clarifying that data from services like Gmail and Photos may be used for advertising if shared with other Google products. This change is linked to the Personal Intelligence feature, launched in early 2026, which allows users to connect their personal data to Google AI tools.
The company maintains that ads are not based directly on the contents of a user's inbox or photo library. A spokesperson stated that Google does not scan entire inboxes for advertising profiles or share personal data with third parties. However, if a user feeds personal information into an AI search tool, the resulting ads may reflect that data.
Google uses AI interactions for model training, including user inputs and model outputs. While the company claims to filter personal information from training sets, it does not guarantee complete success. Personal Intelligence is an opt-in feature, though users may enable it through various prompts without fully understanding the implications.
To prevent personal data from influencing ads, users must disable Personal Intelligence. This can be done by disconnecting apps within Gemini settings or by navigating through the account settings under Data and privacy, Personalization settings, and Manage Personalized Recommendations in Search Services.
