An alert of significance has been issued to numerous Gmail users, prompting attention for those averse to the notion of artificial intelligence quickly scanning their emails. The recent advisory was shared online by Lori Greiner, a well-known American TV personality and business mogul.
Over the weekend, the star of Shark Tank relayed 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 everyone’s safety.
The cause for concern stems from Google’s introduction of new AI smart features aimed at analyzing emails to provide functions like intelligent searches, contextual responses, and email summaries. Despite Google’s assurance that it does not read messages for personal use, Greiner expressed apprehension.
In her Instagram post, the celebrity highlighted the issue, warning Gmail users not to overlook the potential risks. She disclosed that Google has been permitting AI to scan all types of emails, including financial documents, tax details, and personal conversations, without the users’ explicit knowledge.
To address this, Greiner advised users not to panic, as disabling this setting is a straightforward process. By following simple steps, users can deactivate AI in Gmail settings within seconds.
Users are instructed to access Settings, navigate to “Smart features,” and disable the feature in Gmail, Chat, and Meet to prevent Google from scanning their messages. Additionally, by managing Workspace Smart Features and deselecting options for Workspace and other products, users can further limit data access for AI.
Google maintains that personal data is safeguarded, with no access granted to its team or external parties. The tech giant clarified that its AI models, including Gemini, are not trained on personal emails and only perform specific tasks within the inbox as requested by the user.
Therefore, while Google assures the privacy of users’ inboxes, individuals who prefer to avoid AI interventions can opt out by adjusting the settings in their Gmail account.