Google’s Gemini just switched on its new AI Smart Features, which will use the content of your emails to train its AI database. If warning bells just went off in your mind at this news, and you want to protect your data and privacy, here’s how to turn off Google’s Gemini “Smart Features.”
Switch Off in Two Locations
It’s critical to note that you will need to turn off Google’s Gemini Smart Features in two different locations: within the settings of your Google Account and also inside Gmail.
Gmail Settings
Inside Gmail, you’ll click on the Settings cog wheel icon in the upper right hand corner once you’ve signed into your email account. Then click on the See All Settings button near the top of the sidebar that opens.
Switch Off Smart Features
In the General tab of Settings, scroll down to the section titled Smart Features. Uncheck the Smart Features box. It will require you to reload your gmail.
CAUTION: Disabled Features!
Turning off all Smart Features will disable a great many features within Gmail that you may have previously relied on. For example, this will turn off:
- Specialty Inbox Setups (NOTE: you can get these back if you switch it back on.)
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Autocorrect
- Smart Compose
- Smart Compose personalization
- Nudges
- Smart Reply
- Package tracking
- Desktop notifications
Alternatively, you can keep Smart Features switched on and toggle on or off the features listed above. Though, this will still open you up to having your private data potentially used to train an AI database.
Google Workspace
You can get to your Google Workspace smart features from within that same General tab in Gmail. It’s the next item down from the Gmail Smart Features. Simply click on the button labeled Manage Workspace smart feature settings. Once inside the Google Workspace smart features dialogue box that pops up, you’ll toggle off Smart features in Google Workspace as well as Smart features in other Google products.
Privacy and Data Risk
There is no way I’m putting my customer and client data at risk—not to mention my own!—so I’m keeping all of the Smart Features turned off.
I hope that Google users express their displeasure en masse at this default opt-in. There is no excuse for opening up users’ private data to that kind of security risk. It’s enough to make me want to switch to a different email platform altogether. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this one. Hopefully they’ll reverse course after they see the backlash. AI database training should ALWAYS be opt-in. ALWAYS.
NOTE: For Google users in the United States, Gemini Smart Features were just flipped on by default while users in the European Union have theirs turned off by default and must opt in manually if they want to try them out.