Google is updating its privacy policy to allow saved media—images, files, audio, and video uploaded or created in services like Lens, voice search, Translate, and other apps—to be used for training and improving AI models, with opt-out options available.

The June update makes saved media and Web & App Activity data part of AI training pipelines, while emphasizing that changes can be reviewed and adjusted by users, including opt-out choices.

Google stresses that saved media and history help develop services and protect users, while providing access to human reviewers for quality and safety checks.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about automatic enrollment, opt-out mechanisms, and how clearly Google communicates these changes to users.

Web & App Activity data is now distinct from Search data, so changes to one do not automatically affect the other, and opting out may require adjusting both separately.

The policy notes that training data can come from routine product use, not just public pages, signaling a broader shift in data collection and the need for privacy controls similar to app permissions.

Users are encouraged to regularly review privacy settings to understand what data is stored and how it affects personalization and protection.

Additional privacy controls are accessible via the More Activity page, allowing management of Web & App Activity, Timeline, and YouTube History.

There is a notable risk for businesses that employees may upload confidential or work-related data into consumer Google tools, potentially exposing sensitive information.

A workaround some users report is appending -AI to queries to limit AI-generated results from the interface.

Context highlights ongoing coverage about Google AI training settings and Gmail privacy issues, underscoring confusion around opt-out controls.

IT teams should review managed Google account settings, update acceptable-use guidance, and remind staff not to upload confidential data into Search services unless approved.