Google is battling a fresh wave of privacy backlash as viral posts claim the company is secretly mining Gmail messages to feed its AI models. The alarm bells started ringing after a Malwarebytes blog post alleged Google had altered its policies, prompting fears that users’ emails and attachments were quietly being used to train the Gemini AI system.
But Google says that is flat-out wrong.
“These reports are misleading. We have not changed anyone’s settings, Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years, and we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model,” spokesperson Jenny Thomson told The Verge.
Still, the panic spiraled. Social media lit up with screenshots showing “smart features” like predictive text and calendar integrations enabled by default. Some users even reported these features being re-enabled after they had been disabled, which added fuel to the fire.
The confusion stems from how Gmail’s smart features actually function. Tools like Smart Compose, flight tracking, and auto-sorting rely on local data analysis to personalize your experience, not to train global AI systems. Turning them on means Google uses your Gmail and Workspace content to tailor your experience across its apps, but according to the company, that is entirely separate from Gemini’s training pipeline.
Google insists that personalization and AI model training are two different things. But public trust is fragile. A class-action lawsuit filed earlier this month accuses the company of crossing the line by granting Gemini access to Gmail, Chat, and Meet content, something Google strongly denies.
The controversy comes at a difficult time. Google is promoting Gemini 3, its most powerful AI system so far. As its tools become more embedded in everyday services, users are asking harder questions and checking their privacy settings more carefully.
In related news, Google now lets Pixel 10 users share files directly with iPhones, iPads, and Macs through AirDrop, making transfers nearly instant and removing the need for apps or setup.
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