In recent days, social media and online communities have been buzzing with claims that Google is training its Gemini artificial intelligence model using private Gmail messages. Many people were particularly upset by the idea that their personal correspondence could become training data without a clear opt-in. As a result, a large number of users started checking their privacy settings and trying to find out what is really happening.
Google’s response to the accusations
Google has officially responded to these accusations and publicly denied them. The company states that it does not use the content of Gmail messages to train Gemini and that it has not changed privacy settings without users’ knowledge. According to Google, misleading reports are spreading due to incorrect interpretations and exaggerated stories on social media.
The whole situation has revealed how sensitive society is about data security in the age of artificial intelligence. Even unverified messages can cause significant fear when they involve personal emails. Many people expect clear answers about what data is used and for what purpose, so such discussions quickly expand and intensify.
What triggered the panic?
The biggest wave of concern was caused by a viral video from a YouTube content creator, who claimed that users supposedly agree by default to share all their emails for AI training. The video warned that the only way to opt out was to disable smart features such as automatic spell check. These claims led many to believe that their privacy had become less secure.
In response, users began to check their settings en masse and share their worries online. Google explains that smart features are designed to improve convenience and personalize services. For example, they help users write emails more quickly or manage calendar tasks, but, according to the company, they are not used to train Gemini.
Google says that such features have been part of the Gmail system for many years. They analyze content only to improve the user experience, not to build large training datasets. In this way, the company tries to separate everyday convenience tools from the process of training artificial intelligence models.
Official position and ongoing doubts
Google representative Jenny Thomson emphasized to the media that Gmail message content is not used for model training. She also stressed that the company does not secretly change settings and always informs users about significant updates. This would suggest that the current wave of panic has been based on false assumptions.
However, some reports indicate that certain users may have found themselves re-enrolled in Smart Features even after having previously turned them off. This raises questions about the transparency and reliability of settings management, even though it does not in itself prove that data is being used to train Gemini. Because of this, the topic is likely to remain at the center of public debate for some time.
For now, the conclusion is clear: Google states that the content of emails is not a source for training Gemini, and that smart features exist solely to improve service quality. Nevertheless, public attention remains high, as technologies evolve and the rules governing them may change as well. Users are therefore encouraged to follow official announcements closely and to regularly review and adjust which features they wish to use.
