Why Gmail's AI Features Might Be a Privacy Concern

Google's Data Collection for AI Improvement

Gmail users might want to review their settings. Google has been utilizing data from emails to enhance its AI models. This includes personal and work messages, as well as attachments. The company states that this information is used to improve services and develop new features, such as Google Translate and Gemini Apps.

User Concerns and Legal Action

Some users are unhappy about this practice. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Google. The complaint alleges that Google secretly enabled Gemini to access private communications, including every email and attachment in Gmail accounts. Google has denied these allegations, asserting that Gmail Smart Features have been in place for years and user content is not used to train the Gemini AI model.

Privacy Settings and Trade-offs

If you're concerned about your privacy, you can disable these features. However, this might result in losing some useful Gmail functions. For example, opting out will disable the "Ask Gemini" feature, personalized search, and automatic calendar events from emails. It will also turn off features in Maps, Wallet, and Google Assistant.

How to Adjust Your Settings

• Desktop: Find these settings in the "General" tab and "Manage Workplace smart feature settings."
• Mobile: Go to "Data privacy" in the settings menu.

Turning off these features might mean you'll need to read your emails more carefully, as you won't have automatic filters or smart compose.

The Trade-off

For many people, the trade-off is worth it. They prefer to have more control over their data, even if it means losing some convenience.