Google is implementing "Personal Intelligence" into the AI Mode of its Search platform, a new feature designed to provide tailored responses by connecting user data from Google Photos and Google Workspace, including Gmail messages. This functionality aims to integrate personal information to offer more relevant search results without requiring users to repeatedly input their preferences or existing plans.
Feature Overview
The "Personal Intelligence" feature leverages a user's digital history stored within Google's ecosystem. By accessing information from Gmail and Google Photos, the AI Mode can create a more personalized search experience. This initiative follows the introduction of a similar "Personal Intelligence" capability within Gemini AI, which also utilizes Search and YouTube history alongside Gmail and Photos.
Functionality and Examples
The system is designed to use personal data for specific applications:
- Trip Planning: AI Mode can reference hotel bookings found in Gmail and travel memories from Google Photos to suggest personalized recommendations. Examples include identifying kid-friendly museums, specific dining locations based on past photos, or generating travel itineraries.
- Shopping: The feature can consider previous purchase types, shopping locations, and preferred brands. When searching for items like a coat for an upcoming trip, AI Mode can factor in flight confirmations from Gmail to suggest weather-appropriate and style-matching options. It can also prioritize products from preferred brands or curate recommendations for specific interests, such as ice cream parlors based on photo content.
User Control and Privacy
Google has outlined several aspects regarding user control and privacy for this feature:
- Opt-in Requirement: Users must explicitly opt-in to enable Personal Intelligence and connect their Google Workspace or Photos accounts.
- Disabling the Feature: The feature can be disabled by the user at any time.
- Transparency: AI Mode will display indicators such as "Checking Connected Apps" and "Applying Personal Intelligence" when utilizing this feature. Inline citations will show icons for Gmail and Google Photos when information from these services is used in a response.
- Response Regeneration: Users have the option to regenerate AI responses "without personalization."
- Data Training Policy: Google states that it does not directly train its AI models on entire Gmail inboxes or Google Photos libraries. Training is limited to specific prompts given in AI Mode and the model's responses to those prompts, intended to improve the feature's functionality. The system utilizes the Gemini 3 model.
- Accuracy and Feedback: Google acknowledges that its systems may occasionally make incorrect connections or misunderstand context. Users are able to provide feedback and make corrections through follow-up prompts.
Availability
The "Personal Intelligence" feature is being rolled out through Search Labs. It is available for personal Google accounts in the United States that are subscribed to Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra. Users can manually enable the feature by connecting their Workspace and Google Photos accounts via Search personalization settings.