Google has revised its privacy policy, effective October 16, 2026, allowing information shared with AI-powered Search and Gemini to potentially influence personalised advertising.
The update clarifies that users enabling Personal Intelligence may permit Google services to access information from Gmail, Google Photos and Drive.
Although Google does not use private content for targeted advertising by default, voluntarily connecting these services introduces new possibilities for data-driven advertising.
Launched in January 2026, Personal Intelligence combines information across connected applications to generate contextual AI responses, recommendations and personalised search experiences.
The development raises important privacy concerns. Emails, photographs and personal activities could become advertising signals, blurring boundaries between AI assistance and commercial monetisation.
For Indian users, the policy reinforces the importance of informed consent, transparent data processing and stronger safeguards under the Digital Personal Data Protection framework.
The larger message is clear: AI convenience comes with privacy trade-offs. Users should review connected applications, disable unnecessary personalisation and retain control over sensitive information.
