Gmail Users Advised to Review "Smart Features" Amid AI Data Concerns
Gmail users have been advised by a technology expert to review and potentially deactivate certain "Smart Features" within their accounts. This recommendation follows concerns raised regarding Google's potential access to email data for artificial intelligence (AI) model training. The discussion gained further attention after an Illinois resident filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging unauthorized AI monitoring of private communications. Google, in response to related reports, has stated that claims of using Gmail content for training its Gemini AI model are "misleading."
Expert Recommendations and User Concerns
Engineering YouTuber Davey Jones stated that users were automatically opted into settings allowing Gmail to access private messages and attachments, reportedly for AI model training. Jones recommended manually disabling "Smart Features" in two distinct locations within Gmail settings to prevent this.
Engineering YouTuber Davey Jones stated that users were automatically opted into settings allowing Gmail to access private messages and attachments, reportedly for AI model training.
The deactivation of these features would disable functionalities such as "Ask Gemini," which offers content summaries and suggestions from Google Assistant and the Gemini App. Additionally, other tools like Smart Compose, email categorization (e.g., filtering into "promotional" and "social" inboxes), spell-check, grammar check, and autocorrect would also be affected. Some users have noted that disabling these features removes functionalities, such as email categorization, that were previously available independently of AI-related settings.
Legal Action Against Google
On November 25, an Illinois resident, Thomas Thele, filed a lawsuit alleging that Google enabled its Gemini AI for users' Gmail, Chat, and Meet accounts on October 10. According to the lawsuit, this activation allowed AI to track private communications without explicit user knowledge or consent. Thele's suit claims that this default tracking continues and requires users to proactively locate and disable the privacy setting.
Google's Official Statement
A Google representative informed HuffPost via email that claims related to the issue are "misleading." The representative clarified that "Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years" and asserted that Google does "not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model." Google also reiterated its commitment to transparency regarding updates to its services and policies.
"Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years," a Google representative clarified, asserting that Google does "not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model."
While a Google spokesperson provided a general statement to HuffPost addressing the reports, the company did not immediately respond to questions specifically concerning the process of users being opted into or out of features, or the ongoing class-action lawsuit.
Instructions for Disabling Smart Features
Users wishing to deactivate these features can follow specific steps:
On Desktop/Laptop:
- Navigate to the "See all settings" tab.
- Select the "Smart features" setting.
- Deselect "Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet."
- Click "Manage Workplace smart feature settings" to open a secondary pop-up for adjusting features across Google Workspace and other Google products.
On Smartphones:
- Access the settings page (typically found at the bottom of the inbox menu).
- Select "Data privacy."
- Deactivate "Smart features."
- Proceed to "Google Workspace smart features" to apply similar changes for Workspace and other Google products.
Broader Context of AI Concerns
A Pew Research Center report indicates that 6 out of 10 Americans express concern over the use of artificial intelligence in general. Users reportedly have the option to disable certain AI features within Gmail.