Google Says Gmail and Photos Data Shared With AI Search Could Be Used for Targeted Ads

Key Points:

• Google updated its privacy policy effective October 16, 2026, to clarify that personalized AI features in Search and Gemini may use data from connected Google services like Gmail, Photos, and Drive to serve targeted ads if users opt in.
• The policy specifies that Google does not use content from Gmail, Drive, or Photos for ad personalization by default, but this changes when users enable Personal Intelligence and share data through AI Mode or Gemini.
• Personal Intelligence, introduced in January 2026, allows users to link multiple Google services to receive tailored AI responses, but this may also lead to personalized advertising based on shared data.
• Users can manage their privacy preferences by disconnecting apps from Personal Intelligence or disabling Personalized Recommendations in Search settings to avoid targeted ads based on their AI interactions.
• In comparison, OpenAI has expanded ad-supported ChatGPT services to 89 countries while maintaining that user data and conversations remain private and are not sold to advertisers, with ads clearly separated from chatbot responses.