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Editorial illustration for Google Search AI Mode uses Gmail, Photos in new Personal Intelligence update
Gemini AI Now Scans Gmail and Photos Personally
Google Search AI Mode uses Gmail, Photos in new Personal Intelligence update
Google is nudging its Search AI Mode toward a more personal touch, letting the assistant peek into the data you already keep in Gmail and Google Photos—if you give it the green light. The move arrives as part of an opt‑in Personal Intelligence update that promises to shape answers around the content you’ve stored, from flight confirmations to family albums. While the feature is optional, the company says it could make the AI feel less generic and more aligned with what matters to you day‑to‑day.
Imagine asking for a weekend getaway and getting suggestions that reference a hotel reservation you received last month, or a photo of a beach you’ve bookmarked from a recent trip. And if your camera roll is heavy on self‑portraits, the system might pick up on that, too.
The opt‑in Personal Intelligence update aims to automatically tailor AI Mode responses to your interests. For example, Google says Personal Intelligence allows AI Mode to suggest travel itineraries by referencing hotel bookings in your Gmail and holiday snaps in Photos. If you take a lot of selfies...
The opt-in Personal Intelligence update aims to automatically tailor AI Mode responses to your interests. For example, Google says Personal Intelligence allows AI Mode to suggest travel itineraries by referencing hotel bookings in your Gmail and holiday snaps in Photos. If you take a lot of selfies with ice cream, then it could curate recommendations for ice cream parlors.
When using AI Mode to shop online, it can prioritize products from brands you wear or have purchased before. Eligible Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers can opt in to the Gmail and Google Photos connections for AI Mode starting today. The update is rolling out in the US as a feature in Google Labs and is only available for personal Google accounts.
This rollout follows Personal Intelligence being introduced to Gemini AI, which can also tap into Search and YouTube history alongside Gmail and Photos. "Built with privacy in mind, AI Mode uses our most intelligent model, Gemini 3, and doesn't train directly on your Gmail inbox or Google Photos library," Google Search VP Robby Stein said in the announcement. "Training is contained to limited info, like specific prompts in AI Mode and the model's responses, to improve functionality over time." Stein says that while Personal Intelligence can be helpful, internal testing shows that "mistakes can happen." AI Mode users can correct any unsuitable recommendations and provide feedback by giving a follow-up response or giving it a "thumbs down."
Will users feel comfortable handing their inbox and photo library to a chatbot? Google’s new Personal Intelligence update says it will automatically tailor AI Mode responses by drawing on Gmail messages and Google Photos. The feature is opt‑in, meaning individuals must actively enable the data sharing, yet the announcement offers few details on how the information is stored or protected.
For now, the company points to a travel‑itinerary example, where a hotel confirmation email and vacation snapshots could combine to suggest a trip plan. If you take a lot of selfies, the system could surface related recommendations, though the exact mechanics remain vague. Critics note that automatic personalization could blur the line between convenience and intrusion, especially when personal content is parsed without explicit prompts.
Google frames the change as a way to avoid manual preference settings, but whether the benefit outweighs potential privacy trade‑offs is still unclear. The rollout will likely reveal how users balance usefulness against the desire for data control. Privacy concerns linger.
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Common Questions Answered
How does Google's new Personal Intelligence feature work with Gemini?
Personal Intelligence allows Gemini to connect with and reason across Google apps like Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to provide more tailored responses. The feature is initially available only for paid AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, and users can individually choose which data sources to connect.
What specific examples demonstrate Gemini's Personal Intelligence capabilities?
Google provided examples like referencing road trip photos to suggest tire recommendations, pulling license plate numbers from images, and helping plan family vacations by analyzing past travel patterns and interests stored across Gmail and Photos. The AI can retrieve specific details from emails or photos to craft more personalized answers.
Is Personal Intelligence enabled by default, and how can users control their data?
Personal Intelligence is off by default and entirely optional for users. Individuals can choose to connect or disconnect specific Google services, use temporary chats without personal data, and Gemini will always cite when it uses personal information. The feature is designed to avoid making proactive assumptions about sensitive data like health information.