Gmail users are facing new concerns regarding privacy as Google has automatically opted them into a feature that permits the company to utilize their email data—comprised of personal and work messages, along with attachments—to enhance its artificial intelligence models. Cybersecurity experts caution that users who wish to prevent their information from being shared must actively adjust their settings.
Dave Jones, an engineer, alerted users on X, emphasizing the need to turn off what Google labels “Smart Features.” He noted that this opt-in requires users to navigate through two distinct settings locations in their Gmail account. Although Google has automatically enrolled users in this feature, it is important to understand that consent for data sharing is actually not mandatory.
In the growing competition among tech companies to leverage AI, there is a noted shortage of new, human-generated data for training AI models. Reports have indicated that tools such as AI assistants designed to record meeting notes present an opportunity for businesses to collect data passively, even in mundane corporate settings.
According to Google’s privacy policy, the company asserts that it uses information to enhance its services and innovate new products that benefit users. An example provided is the use of publicly accessible data to train AI technologies like Google Translate and Cloud AI capabilities.
However, a recent article by Bloomberg highlighted a class-action lawsuit against Google, where plaintiffs accuse the company of secretly activating the Gemini feature to exploit users’ email histories.
Google has since responded to claims about these practices, asserting that they do not utilize Gmail content for training the Gemini AI model, and stressing the importance of transparency regarding any service updates.
For users concerned about their data being used in AI training, there is a solution: they can opt out.
To disable this automatic feature, users need to follow a couple of steps. On desktop, they should go to the settings (the cog icon) in the upper corner, access the “General” tab, and uncheck the “Smart features.” Following this, they can click “Manage Workplace smart feature settings” to adjust the features in Google Workspace and other related products.
On mobile devices, users can access these settings through the settings page located at the bottom of the inbox, selecting “Data privacy” to toggle off “Smart features” and visit the “Google Workspace smart features” menu to adjust those settings.
It’s vital to note that opting out will disable certain intuitive Gmail features, such as “smart compose” and automatic email sorting. This may result in a more manual approach to email management for those who choose to protect their privacy.
As the dialogue around digital privacy continues to evolve, Google’s developments raise important questions about user consent, control, and the trade-offs between convenience and data security. As more people become aware of these settings and take action, it serves as a reminder of the importance of being proactive in managing personal data.