An alert of significance has been issued to numerous Gmail users, prompting attention for those who are wary of artificial intelligence scanning their emails. The recent advisory was relayed online by American television personality and businesswoman Lori Greiner.
Over the weekend, the Shark Tank celebrity shared a crucial message on Instagram, urging individuals with Gmail accounts to stay vigilant and inform their loved ones for added protection.
The concern arises from Google’s introduction of new AI features intended to analyze inboxes for functions like smart searches, contextual responses, and email digests. While Google asserts that the AI does not read messages for its gain, Greiner remains apprehensive.
In her Instagram post, the celebrity emphasized, “If you have a Gmail account, pay attention to this warning.” She further revealed, “Google has been permitting AI to scan all your emails, encompassing financial records, tax details, and personal dialogues, without your knowledge.”
For those feeling anxious about this revelation, there is a simple solution to disable this setting. Greiner assured, “The good news is, you can deactivate it within 30 seconds.”
To deactivate AI in Gmail, follow these steps:
1. Access Settings and click on “see all settings.”
2. Scroll down until you locate “Smart features.”
3. Disable smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet to halt Google’s email scanning.
4. Also, deselect boxes for Workspace and other products under “Manage Workspace Smart Features” to completely restrict data access for AI.
Despite the reassurance from Google that personal data remains confidential and secure, some users may prefer to opt out of the AI features in Gmail if they are uncomfortable with the idea.
In conclusion, while Google maintains that personal emails are not used to train AI models like Gemini, individuals concerned about privacy can choose to disable AI features in Gmail as a precautionary measure.
