An alert deemed ‘significant’ has been issued to numerous Gmail users, prompting attention for those who are wary of AI scanning their emails. The recent warning was shared online by American television personality and businesswoman Lori Greiner.
Over the weekend, the renowned Shark Tank star posted a message on Instagram urging Gmail account holders to be cautious. The message emphasized the importance of sharing the information with friends and family to ensure their safety.
The concern arises from Google’s implementation of new AI smart functionalities within Gmail. These features are designed to analyze email content for purposes like smart searches, contextual responses, and email summaries. While Google asserts that it does not read messages for personal use, Greiner remains apprehensive.
In her Instagram post, the celebrity emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “If you have a Gmail account, do not overlook this warning.” She revealed that AI scans all types of emails, including financial documents, tax information, and personal conversations, without users’ awareness.
For those alarmed by this revelation, there is a simple solution to disable this setting. Greiner reassured users that they can deactivate AI in Gmail within 30 seconds by following these steps:
1. Go to Settings and click on “see all settings.”
2. Scroll down to locate “Smart features.”
3. Disable smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet to prevent Google from scanning messages.
4. Additionally, click on “Manage Workspace Smart Features” and uncheck boxes for Workspace and other products to further limit data usage by AI.
Google maintains that personal data is not accessed by its team or third parties, ensuring secure handling of information. The tech giant clarified that its foundational AI models, such as Gemini, do not train on personal emails. Any access granted to Gemini in Gmail is for specific tasks like summarizing emails, with privacy remaining intact.
Despite Google’s assurances, individuals uncomfortable with AI scanning may opt out by deselecting the smart feature in Gmail settings.