Google appears to have loosened the language protecting data from Gmail, Drive and Photos from ad personalization. Although the company has long said that sensitive information from those services is not used to tailor advertising, a privacy-policy update discovered on October 16 suggests that data shared with Google’s AI tools could indirectly influence ads, particularly when users enable the optional Personal Intelligence feature.
Privacy-policy language changes
Google’s privacy policy, as reported by Android Authority, previously included clear restrictions in its ad-personalization section. The document stated: “You won’t see personalized ads based on content in Drive, Gmail, or Photos.” Google has since updated the wording in the languages covered by the policy change.
The revised language creates ambiguity about whether information from Gmail, Photos and other apps could be used for advertising after being shared with other Google services. That possibility is particularly relevant because Google introduced Personal Intelligence in early 2026, allowing users to connect data from multiple apps to its AI products.
Personal Intelligence and AI search
Personal Intelligence connects users’ data not only to the Gemini app but also to features such as AI mode in Google Search. The Gemini app is currently ad-free, while Google’s AI search tools may display sponsored content.
The policy changes appear to acknowledge that information shared with AI search through Personal Intelligence could contribute to ad personalization. Google says the clarification does not mean that ads are “directly based” on personal data.
The company provided the following statement:
“The app’s connectivity is completely opt-in. Ads remain relevant to your query, response context, interests, and more. Ads are never based directly on your Gmail inbox or photo library, and as always, no sensitive information is used to personalize ads.”
Google’s explanation maintains that ads are not directly based on a user’s Gmail inbox or photo library. However, the combination of the updated policy and Personal Intelligence means that data from connected workspaces and photos may help provide context for AI search responses while also influencing the broader signals used for ad targeting. The extent of that relationship remains unclear, but the revised policy language appears to make the possibility explicit.
Source: arstechnica.com