7 Google Settings You Must Change Now to Stop AI From Scooping Up Your Data

Google’s integration of AI into nearly every product—Gmail, Search, Assistant, Photos, and its Gemini chatbot—makes those tools more convenient. But convenience comes at a cost: by default, many of these features send your personal data back to Google’s servers for training, analysis, and improvement. A recent PCMag article outlined seven specific settings you can change to limit what Google’s AI can see. Below is a practical walkthrough.

What Happened

In July 2026, PCMag published a guide titled “Google’s AI Has Access to More Than You Think. Change These 7 Settings Now to Protect Your Privacy.” The piece highlighted that Google’s Gemini AI, Search Generative Experience, and other AI tools often have access to more personal information than most users expect—such as your search history, location data, voice recordings, and even the content of your emails and photos. Because these features are turned on by default, many people unknowingly share data that Google can use to train its models, personalize ads, or build a detailed profile of your behavior.

Why It Matters

Google’s privacy policies state that it may use your data to improve its services, including AI models. While the company does offer opt-outs, finding them requires digging through menus that change regularly. The practical effect is clear: if you haven’t adjusted your settings, Gemini likely has a record of your past conversations, Search knows what you’ve looked for, Assistant may have saved audio clips, and Photos may have analyzed your images for faces and objects. For anyone concerned about who has access to their digital life, these defaults are worth understanding—and changing.

What Readers Can Do: Change These 7 Settings

Follow these steps to reduce the data Google’s AI can collect. The exact menu paths may differ slightly depending on your device and whether you’re using a web browser or a phone, but the core controls are under your Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com.

1. Turn Off Gemini Apps Activity

Gemini stores your conversations and related data to improve its responses. To stop this:

  • Go to myaccount.google.com → Data & Privacy → Your data in Gemini.
  • Toggle Gemini Apps Activity off.
  • You can also delete past activity here.

2. Disable Web & App Activity

This setting tracks your searches, browsing, and app usage—a primary source of data for AI personalization.

  • Under Data & Privacy → Web & App Activity, turn the switch off.
  • Optionally, check “Pause” to prevent future saving. Deleting old activity is also recommended.

3. Mute AI-Powered Search Features (SGE)

Google’s Search Generative Experience shows AI-generated answers at the top of results. It may use your query data differently than standard Search. To turn it off:

  • On Google Search, click the Labs icon (beaker) in the top right, or go to google.com/labs.
  • Find Search Generative Experience and disable it.
  • Note: This feature may not be available in all regions yet.

4. Restrict Assistant Voice & Audio Saving

Google Assistant can store recordings of your voice commands. To limit this:

  • Open the Google Assistant settings (say “Hey Google, open Assistant settings” or go to the app).
  • Under You → Your data in the Assistant → Voice & Audio activity, turn off saving.
  • You can also review and delete existing recordings.

5. Limit Google Photos AI Analysis

Google Photos uses AI to tag faces, objects, and scenes. While useful, this gives the company access to your image content. To reduce analysis:

  • In Google Photos, go to Settings → Privacy.
  • Disable Face grouping and Scene detection.
  • These changes only stop future analysis; existing data may remain.

6. Opt Out of Google Workspace AI Training

If you use Gmail, Google Docs, or Drive through a personal account (not a work or school account), your content may be used to improve AI models. To opt out:

  • Go to your Google Account → Data & Privacy → AI & Personalization.
  • Look for “AI Training” or “Data for AI improvement” and toggle it off.
  • Uncertainty note: Google changes this setting’s label occasionally. If you can’t find it, check the “Other services” section or support page.

7. Review Third-Party AI App Permissions

Many third-party apps use Google’s APIs to power AI features. You may have granted them access without realizing it.

  • Under Security in your Google Account → Third-party apps with account access.
  • Remove any app you don’t recognize or no longer use.
  • Pay special attention to apps that request access to your email, Drive, or contacts.

Bonus: Check What Google Already Knows

To see a summary of the data Google has collected about you, visit myaccount.google.com/privacy and click Activity controls. You can also review your Ads personalization profile at adssettings.google.com. This will show you the inferred interests and demographics derived from your data.

Sources

  • PCMag, “Google’s AI Has Access to More Than You Think. Change These 7 Settings Now to Protect Your Privacy” (July 15, 2026).
  • Google Account help pages for Data & Privacy, Web & App Activity, and Gemini settings.
  • Google Assistant privacy settings documentation.

These changes may reduce the personalization of some Google services, but they don’t break core functionality. You can still use Gmail, Search, and Maps—they’ll just rely less on your personal data. If you prefer a middle ground, consider pausing activity rather than deleting it permanently. Either way, the control is yours.