Google adds optional Gemini feature that uses Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube data for personalized answers

Ars Technica
Ars Technica
3h ago
Google is rolling out an optional Gemini “personal intelligence” feature for paid users that can connect to Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to generate more personalized answers.
Google adds optional Gemini feature that uses Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube data for personalized answers
A What happened
Google is announcing “personal intelligence” in Gemini that lets the chatbot connect to Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to craft answers using a user’s data. The feature is optional, starts with paid users, and allows each data source to be connected or blocked individually. Gemini will cite when it uses personal data, and users can re-run outputs without personalization or use temporary chats that do not use account data. Google says personal data is not directly used to train the model, though prompts and outputs may be used, and it says it has guardrails such as not using health information unless explicitly asked.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Personalization can be turned off per data source: Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube can be connected individually, and access to one or all sources can be disabled in settings.

  • 2

    Users can avoid personalization per chat or per output: Outputs can be re-run without personalization, and temporary chats can be used to avoid using account data.

  • 3

    Google distinguishes between using personal data in answers and training: Google says personal data is not directly used to train the model, while prompts and outputs may be used and personal data is filtered from training data.

Takeaways

Google is rolling out an optional paid Gemini feature that can use a user’s Google account data to personalize answers while providing controls to limit access and avoid personalization.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Artificial Intelligence World & Politics Policy & Regulation Big Tech

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