GOOGLE has updated its privacy policy to clarify that personalised AI features in Search or Gemini may access data from other Google services, including Gmail and Google Photos, to tailor content and ads. The company states that users “may choose to allow certain Google services, including services like Search or Gemini Apps, to access data from other Google services you use” in order to provide a more personalised experience, subject to the accessing service’s policies and settings.
It also notes that “We don't show you personalised ads based on your content from Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos, unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalised ads.” In practice, this means that data from Gmail or Photos could influence ad targeting if a user enables data sharing via AI features such as Personal Intelligence.
The policy’s practical implications hinge on Personal Intelligence, unveiled by Google in January 2026. The feature allows Gmail, Photos and other services to be used in conjunction with AI responses and with a user’s chat history and preferences. The feature is currently rolling out as a beta to eligible users aged 18+, globally, but with exceptions: notably, it is not rolled out in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or Nigeria.
The policy emphasises that data from Gmail or Photos will not be used for personalised ads by default; however, if users opt to share content with AI modes and other Search tools via Personal Intelligence, those inputs could be used as signals for targeted advertising. Users can opt out by disconnecting apps from Personal Intelligence or by disabling personalised recommendations in Search settings.