Google brings Personal Intelligence to AI Mode
The company is moving Search toward AI that understands users personally
Google is bringing Personal Intelligence to AI Mode in Search. The company says this will allow the AI to access users’ Gmail and Google Photos to provide responses tailored specifically to them. Robby Stein, Google Search’s VP of Product, described the update in a blog post, saying it “transforms Search into an experience that feels uniquely yours by connecting the dots across your Google apps.”
Personal Intelligence was first launched in the Gemini app last week, connecting AI responses to Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube history. Now, Google is bringing the same capability to Search, allowing the AI to use your personal data to provide personalized answers.
How it works for users
According to Google, the AI can scan emails and photos to provide relevant information. For example, it can reference flight confirmations, hotel reservations, calendar entries, and pictures.
The company shared an example of planning a family getaway. AI Mode could suggest activities and restaurants based on Gmail bookings and photos. A museum visit might be recommended for kids, or an ice cream parlor highlighted if similar moments appeared in past photos.
Personalized suggestions can also extend to shopping and local recommendations. Google says AI Mode can offer tips based on past behavior, such as clothing or dining preferences.
User control and privacy
Google says Personal Intelligence is optional. Users must enable it in Search settings and can turn access on or off at any time. The feature can access Gmail and Google Photos to provide more relevant responses, but Google states it does not train AI models directly on this personal data. Users can see when their personal context is used and manage or revoke permissions in their account settings.
Powered by Gemini 3
Personal Intelligence also runs on Google’s Gemini 3 series of AI models. Google says this allows AI Mode to combine personal data with its broader knowledge base to create individualized answers while maintaining user control over what the AI can access.
Google is expanding AI Mode capability from a tool that uses AI to give answers in a conversational, contextual way, instead of just a list of links, to one that provides what the AI understands about individual users.
Recap
What is Google Personal Intelligence in AI Mode?
Personal Intelligence is a Google feature that connects AI Mode in Search to your Gmail and Google Photos. It allows the AI to reference your personal data — such as flight confirmations, hotel reservations, calendar entries, and photos — to provide answers tailored specifically to you, rather than generic results.
Is Google Personal Intelligence opt-in or automatic?
It is opt-in. Users must enable Personal Intelligence in their Search settings. Once enabled, you can turn access on or off at any time and control which Google apps the AI can reference. Google states that your personal data is used for context only and is not used to train its AI models.
What data does Google AI Mode access with Personal Intelligence?
When enabled, AI Mode can access Gmail and Google Photos. This includes flight confirmations, hotel reservations, calendar entries, and personal photos. Google says users can see when their personal context is being used and can manage or revoke permissions at any time in their account settings.