On October 24, 2026, Google confirmed that personal data from Gmail and Google Photos may be used for targeted advertising when users connect those services to its AI Search feature. The clarification addresses data-use policies that had previously been ambiguous.
AI Search can access personal content to personalize search results, and that data may also inform Google's ad-targeting algorithms. Users can control which services AI Search accesses through permission settings.
The clarification comes amid increased scrutiny from privacy advocates and regulators over how AI companies handle personal data in generative AI features.