Google allows AI Mode users to trade file content for tailored ads
A policy update effective October 16 removes the blanket ban on using Gmail and Drive data for ad targeting if users connect these services to AI features.
By Malik Salazar ·
Google has altered its privacy terms to permit the use of personal file data for advertising when users link their accounts to AI tools. The change takes effect on October 16 and modifies a previous commitment that strictly barred the company from using Gmail, Drive, or Photos data for personalized ads.
The revision introduces a specific exception to that long-standing pledge. The new policy text states that the ban holds only "unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads." This language shifts the burden to the user, implying that enabling certain features constitutes consent for ad targeting.
The policy primarily affects users who have connected their personal accounts to Google's AI Mode and other Search tools via the Personal Intelligence feature. This connection allows the AI to access a user's emails and photos to generate more tailored answers. Under the updated rules, that same data access now allows Google to target ads based on the specific content of those files.
Google has outlined specific limits to the new practice. Advertisers will not receive direct access to the actual content stored in a user's Drive, Gmail, or Photos accounts. They also will not receive personally identifying information such as names or email addresses. The company further claims it will avoid showing ads based on sensitive categories, including race, sexual orientation, religion, or health status.
The policy explains that services like Search or Gemini Apps may reach into other products, including Workspace apps, to provide a "more personalized experience, subject to the policies and settings of the accessing service." The document cites an example where Search processes permitted data to personalize content, including the ads displayed to the user.
For those who prefer to keep their personal files out of the ad targeting system, Google offers two main options. Users can disconnect specific apps from Search's Personal Intelligence features or switch off Personalized Recommendations entirely through the Search Services Personalization settings page. These controls allow users to retain the AI benefits while limiting the scope of data used for commercial targeting.
