Google clarifies ad use of data shared with AI Search
Google has updated its privacy policy to clarify that data users voluntarily share from Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos with personalized AI features in Search or Gemini Apps may be used to personalize advertising. The change took effect on October 16, 2026.
The policy says users may allow services such as Search or Gemini Apps to access data from other Google services for a more personalized experience, subject to the policies and settings of the service doing the accessing. It adds that Search may process data it is allowed to access to personalize content, including ads.
Consent changes the advertising boundary
Google states that it does not show personalized ads based on content in Drive, Gmail or Google Photos by default. The stated exception is when a user chooses to make data from those services available to other Google services that support personalized advertising.
That distinction is significant for people using AI Mode, Gemini and related Search tools. If Personal Intelligence is enabled and a user connects services such as Gmail or Google Photos, content that helps inform AI-generated answers can also become a signal for ad personalization under the revised policy.
Personal Intelligence connects Google services
Google introduced Personal Intelligence in Gemini in January 2026. The feature lets users connect services including Gmail, Google Photos and YouTube, combining that information with chat-history preferences to produce more tailored answers.
Personal Intelligence is rolling out in beta for eligible users aged 18 and over worldwide, except in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The policy update makes the privacy trade-off explicit: connecting personal-service data can improve personalization while also permitting its use by services that support personalized ads.
Controls remain available
Users who do not want connected-app data to support this kind of personalization can disconnect selected apps from Personal Intelligence. Google also offers an option to disable Personalized Recommendations through its Search Services Personalization settings.
For businesses, the practical implication is to review which Google services employees connect to Search and Gemini, particularly for accounts containing work email, files or images. Teams should treat AI connection settings as a privacy and governance decision, confirm the need for each integration, and remove access that is not required for the intended use.