Starting Friday, October 10th, Google will automatically enable a new artificial intelligence feature in Gmail, called AI Enhanced Classification and Review. The service is based on the Gemini platform and will have the ability to analyze the content of incoming emails, including sender, subject, main text and attachments. The goal, according to the company, is to collect data for creating more targeted advertisements.
The announcement has caused intense concern about privacy, as the feature will be activated automatically and without user consent. Those who have a Gmail account will participate in the new data policy, unless they choose to disable it themselves.
What you need to do in your Gmail to stop it?
Google’s AI doesn’t “read” messages manually, but performs mechanical analysis based on keywords and thematic categories, in order to create profiles for personalized advertisements, not only in Gmail but also in other company services.
Disabling from computer:
-Open Gmail and click on the gear icon in the upper right.
-Select “View all settings”.
-In the General tab, find the Smart Features and Personalization sections.
-Disable the options that allow data analysis, such as Smart Writing, Intelligent Response, Shipment Tracking, Reminders and others.
Disabling from smartphone:
-Open the Gmail app.
-Tap the three lines in the upper left and select Settings.
-Select your account and find the Smart Features and Personalization options.
-Disable them to stop analysis from Gemini.
For greater protection, you can visit the Data and Privacy page in your Google account and disable the Web and App Activity option, significantly limiting data collection.
What it means that AI will read your emails
Google maintains that the feature is based exclusively on mechanical analysis and there is no human access to messages. However, automatic activation without explicit consent is considered problematic, as it shifts to the user the responsibility to protect their own data.
The company applies the opt-out model, resulting in consent being considered given unless the user withdraws it. This practice has caused reactions from digital rights organizations and legal circles, while raising compatibility issues with GDPR.
Gmail already has AI features, such as automatic reply, text prediction and message classification. The new feature raises the bar, bringing advertising targeting into personal inboxes.
Google appears to be seeking to enhance the commercial value of its ecosystem, however the lack of clear information and participation options may undermine user trust.
