Personal Intelligence Links Files to Google Ads
A policy revision allows Search to use Gmail and Drive data for ad targeting if users enable specific AI features.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
Google now permits ad targeting based on the contents of users' personal files if they have enabled specific artificial intelligence features. The company revised its privacy policy on October 16, removing a blanket protection that previously shielded data from Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos from personalized advertising.
The new terms create an exception for users who connect these services to AI Mode through the Personal Intelligence feature. When a user opts in, Google’s tools can access their personal content to provide tailored answers. Under the updated rules, that same data sharing now allows Google to target advertisements using the information found in those files.
Prior to the change, the policy stated that Google would not use data from these services for personalized ads. The current text adds a qualifier that the commitment holds unless the user explicitly makes data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads. This shift applies specifically to people who have linked their accounts to Search and other AI tools.
Google has outlined limits on how advertisers use this information. Advertisers do not receive direct access to the files in a user’s Drive, Gmail, or Photos. They also do not receive personally identifying details such as a name or email address. The company states that it will not show ads based on sensitive categories, which include race, sexual orientation, religion, or health.
The policy explains that services like Search or Gemini Apps can reach data from other products to provide a more personalized experience. Search may process permitted data to personalize content, including ads. An example in the document notes that a user searching for mountain bikes might later see ads for sports equipment on YouTube. This process depends on the user’s specific settings and the policies of the accessing service.
Users who wish to keep their personal data out of ad targeting have two main options. They can disconnect specific apps from Search’s Personal Intelligence features. Alternatively, they can switch off Personalized Recommendations entirely through the Search Services Personalization settings page. These controls allow individuals to manage how much of their digital history influences the advertisements they see.
