Check what you've connected to Google's AI before it shapes your ads
Google's updated privacy policy says Gmail, Drive and Photos data you connect to its AI search tools can now be used to personalize ads. Here's a quick way to check your settings.
What happened
The Verge reports that Google has updated its privacy policy in a way that could lead to targeted ads based on your personal data if you use its personalized AI features. The update was spotted by Android Authority, the outlet notes.
Google used to say it wouldn't use your Drive, Gmail or Google Photos for personalized ads. As of October 16th, The Verge says, the policy adds an exception: "unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads."
In plain English, The Verge explains that if you connected those apps to AI Mode and other Search tools through a feature called Personal Intelligence, the content you connected may now influence the ads you see.
Why it matters
Many owners keep client emails, invoices, contracts and photos in Gmail and Drive. Connecting them to an AI assistant is tempting because it can give more useful answers when it knows your context.
The Verge notes that advertisers don't get access to your Drive, Gmail or Photos information, or to details like your name or email address. It also says Google won't show ads based on sensitive categories such as race, sexual orientation, religion or health.
That's reassuring, but it's still a decision worth making on purpose. If an account holds confidential client or customer information, you may not want it feeding ad personalization at all.
What it means for your business
- Law and accounting firms: If client emails and documents live in Gmail or Drive, check whether anyone has connected those accounts to Search's AI tools. Confidentiality rules may be stricter than Google's defaults.
- Clinics: Patient-related messages and files deserve extra caution. Confirm the connections are off for any account that touches them.
- Agencies: Client work, contracts and campaign files often sit in shared Drives. Make sure no one's convenience setting is quietly pulling that in.
- Retail shops: Supplier invoices, customer photos and order emails may be mixed into one inbox. Decide whether you want that connected to your personal search experience.
The Verge's coverage focuses on personal data, and it doesn't spell out how this applies to every kind of work account. So it's worth checking what your own settings say rather than assuming.
One thing to try this week
Spend ten minutes on a settings review. Sign in to each account you use for work, open Google's Search personalization settings, and look at which apps are connected to Personal Intelligence.
According to The Verge, you can disconnect individual apps from those features, or turn off Personalized Recommendations entirely on the Search Services Personalization settings page.
Then write a one-line team rule, such as: "Work Gmail and Drive don't get connected to AI search tools unless the owner approves it." Send it to your staff and put a reminder on the calendar to recheck in a few months, because it's good practice to review privacy settings every so often.