Millions of Gmail users have received a significant alert regarding Google’s new AI smart features that scan emails for smart searches, replies, and summaries. The warning, shared by TV personality Lori Greiner on Instagram, raises concerns about AI accessing personal and sensitive information within emails.
Greiner emphasized the importance of taking action by disabling this feature in Gmail settings. To opt out, users can easily navigate to Settings, locate “Smart features,” and turn off the setting for Gmail, Chat, and Meet. Additionally, users should manage workspace smart features by unchecking boxes for Workspace and other products to prevent data usage for AI.
Despite Google’s assurance that personal data remains secure and inaccessible to its team or third parties, some users may still prefer to disable the AI feature for privacy reasons. Google clarified that its AI model, including Gemini, does not train on personal emails and only accesses data for specific tasks before leaving the inbox.
For those uncomfortable with AI scanning their emails, the option to disable smart features in Gmail settings allows for increased privacy and control over personal data.