Google has launched an experimental 'Personal Intelligence' feature for its AI Mode in Search, allowing users to connect Gmail and Google Photos for more tailored responses. The opt-in tool, powered by Gemini 3, aims to make search results more relevant by drawing on personal data without training models on full inboxes. It rolls out first to paid subscribers in the US.
Google is enhancing its AI capabilities with Personal Intelligence, an optional feature now integrated into AI Mode within Google Search. Announced on January 22, 2026, this Labs experiment enables the AI to pull context from users' Gmail accounts and Google Photos libraries to deliver customized answers. For instance, when shopping for clothes, the system might recommend brands from past purchases or suggest items suited to a trip confirmed in an email, as illustrated in Google's examples.
The feature is available initially to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US using English, for personal Google accounts across web, Android, and iOS versions of Gemini. It excludes Workspace or Enterprise accounts for now, with plans to expand to free users and non-US regions soon. Users must explicitly enable it and can select which apps to connect, such as Calendar alongside Gmail and Photos; it's off by default to respect privacy.
Powered by the Gemini 3 model, Personal Intelligence reasons across text, photos, and video for nuanced recommendations. Josh Woodward, vice president of Gemini app and Google Labs, noted in a blog post that it has 'made his daily life easier,' citing an example where it suggested all-terrain tires based on off-roading interests inferred from calendar events and photos. When using personal data, the AI cites it inline, similar to web sources.
Google emphasizes that the feature isn't perfect and may draw incorrect conclusions, advising follow-up prompts for corrections. Importantly, while prompts and responses help train models, the company does not use full Gmail inboxes or Photos libraries for training, aligning with Gemini's privacy policy. Access to connected data can be revoked anytime, though per-query toggles are not yet available.
This move underscores Google's push to make AI search more agentic and user-centric, potentially transforming how people interact with information tied to their digital lives.
