NEWS

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

Google's updated privacy policy says data you let Search or Gemini access from Gmail, Photos and Drive may personalize ads. Here is what changed and how to opt out.

Dylan H.

News Desk

October 24, 2026
2 min read
Google Says Gmail and Photos Data Shared With AI Search Could Be Used for Targeted Ads

Overview

Google has updated its privacy policy, effective October 16, 2026, to spell out that using personalized AI features in Search or Gemini could let the company serve targeted ads based on activity in other connected Google services. The change was first reported by Android Authority.

What Changed

  • Users "may choose to allow" certain services to access data from other Google services to get a more personalized experience.
  • Google says Search "may process some of the data that you allow Search to access to personalize content, including ads."
  • The data sources include Google Photos, Gmail and Drive, and Personal Intelligence can also connect YouTube.
  • Google says it does not personalize ads from Drive, Gmail or Photos content by default, "unless you choose to make data from these services available" to ad-supporting services.

The practical consequence: if you share that content with AI Mode or other Search tools through Personal Intelligence, the material behind an AI answer could become an ad-targeting signal. The wording is hedged ("could"), and the report does not confirm how the signals are used in practice or include a Google response.

Personal Intelligence Background

Google introduced Personal Intelligence in Gemini in January 2026. It lets users connect services such as Gmail, Photos and YouTube for tailored answers. It is rolling out as a beta to eligible users over 18 worldwide, excluding the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the U.K. and Nigeria.

The move lands as rivals monetize AI as well: OpenAI began showing ads to logged-in adult U.S. users on its free and Go tiers in January 2026 and has since expanded to 89 countries, saying it does not sell customer data or share conversations with advertisers.

What Users and Admins Can Do

  1. Disconnect individual apps from Personal Intelligence if you do not want their content feeding AI answers.
  2. Turn off Personalized Recommendations in Search Services Personalization settings (google.com/search-personalization).
  3. Review Ads Personalization settings in your Google account.
  4. For organizations, review Workspace admin controls for AI features and decide whether staff should connect work mailboxes and Drive to consumer-style AI tools.
  5. Treat connecting mail and photo libraries to any AI assistant as a data-sharing decision, not just a convenience toggle.

Sources