Google is evolving its ads policy to allow personalized ads based on data from Gmail, Drive, and Photos only if users opt in to data sharing with other Google services that support personalized ads, marking a shift toward opt-in use of connected app data for AI-driven personalization.

This policy update aligns with a broader move to expand AI capabilities across Google products while facing ongoing scrutiny over data privacy practices.

Availability of app connections is limited by geography and age, with 18+ eligibility in selected countries and no support yet for the EU, UK, or Switzerland, affecting rollout timing.

OpenAI announced that its most advanced models will train offline on a cached, simulated web copy rather than live browsing, citing security concerns and recent incidents.

Personal Intelligence, introduced in Gemini in January 2026, combines data from connected apps with conversation history and user preferences, and is currently in beta for eligible adults outside the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Nigeria.

Disconnecting from services does not erase already accessed data; Search Services History may retain information after content deletion, effectively keeping a record even after you remove content.

Users are advised to review privacy settings before linking personal accounts to AI tools to control how information contributes to personalized experiences.

The policy allows summaries and inferences from connected materials to be used to train generative AI models, with some human review; data may stay in Search history and be used for training unless deleted via activity controls.

Controls to manage these features live under Search Services Personalization and My Ad Center, with warnings not to connect content containing personal or confidential information that users wouldn’t want used for AI training.

Android Authority flagged the update, noting Personal Intelligence aims to improve AI-driven recommendations while clarifying opt-out options.

The change introduces Personal Intelligence via Search and AI Mode, enabling connected Gmail and Photos data to inform search results, with users able to toggle this connection on or off.

A condition tied to Personal Intelligence allows AI tools like AI Mode and Gemini to use data from connected apps for tailored responses and ad targeting.