Google has launched Personal Intelligence, a new feature for its Gemini AI that integrates data from Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to deliver more tailored responses. Available initially to paid subscribers in the US, the opt-in tool emphasizes user privacy controls and avoids direct training on personal data. The rollout begins in beta, with plans for broader access in the future.
Google announced Personal Intelligence on January 14, 2026, enhancing its Gemini chatbot to provide more relevant answers by accessing users' personal data across its ecosystem. The feature connects to Gmail, Google Photos, Search history, and YouTube, allowing Gemini to incorporate this information into responses when enabled.
Starting today, the tool is available to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US, but it is off by default and entirely optional. Users can selectively connect data sources—for instance, granting access to Gmail while blocking Photos—and manage permissions individually. Google VP Josh Woodward highlighted its potential during testing: when shopping for tires, Gemini referenced road trip photos to suggest options and pulled a license plate number from another image.
Privacy remains a key focus. Google stresses that no new data is collected, as users' information is already stored on its servers. The company has implemented guardrails, such as preventing Gemini from using health-related information unless explicitly requested. Personal data is not directly used to train the model; instead, training relies on prompts and outputs, with personal details filtered out. Users can re-run responses without personalization, use temporary chats that exclude account data, or disable access entirely. Gemini will cite when it draws from personal sources.
The beta feature may encounter issues like over-personalization, where it links unrelated items. It functions across the Gemini app on web, Android, and iOS for personal accounts, with upcoming integration into Search's AI Mode and expansion to more countries and the free tier planned.
This development aligns with Google's broader push to embed Gemini into services like Gmail and Chrome, amid collaborations such as powering Apple's Siri. While promising more useful AI, it underscores ongoing debates about data usage in personalized technology.
