Forget Gmail—Google Confirms Android Upgrade Decision

Google’s 2 billion Gmail users face a critical decision, as the company upgrades the world’s leading email platform to make more use of AI. This means Google’s cloud-based AI accessing all your content — however personal and sensitive.

I’ve warned before that Gmail users need to understand the risks before using all these new default updates. It’s no accident or surprise that Gmail’s AI upgrades conflict with its quasi end-to-end encryption upgrade. One is secure, the other is not.

ForbesGoogle’s Gmail AI Search Upgrade—What You Should KnowBy Zak Doffman

The issue with smart AI search and smart AI replies has been privacy — pure and simple. This week, all Android users have been hit with similar warnings, as a poorly written email from Google seemed to suggest AI would access sensitive apps — including Messages and WhatsApp — even if Gemini Activity is disabled.

“Gemini will soon be able to help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off,” the email told users. As Gizmodo reported: “Google to Gemini users: We’re going to look at your texts whether you like it or not.” And understandably, everyone read that email the same way.

Google has now told me this is misleading — the update “is good for users.” Android phones will “use Gemini to complete daily tasks on their mobile devices like send messages, initiate phone calls, and set timers while Gemini Apps Activity is turned off.”

What that actually means is that turning off Gemini Activity doesn’t stop it working on phones, which would have happened before. But “with Gemini Apps Activity turned off, Gemini chats are not being reviewed or used to improve our AI models.”

Before, if you wanted to use Gemini with messaging apps, you’d need to keep Gemini Activity on which would mean those interactions being saved. That’s a privacy nightmare and it’s what Google has in effect fixed. This choice is good news.

ForbesGoogle Confirms Gmail Upgrade Offer—You Must Decide CarefullyBy Zak Doffman

This welcome clarity reflects user concerns. But that’s what is still missing in the Gmail AI debate, which has been more a take it or leave it offer. I would like to see the same transparent and easy privacy choice for Gmail as well, before this goes much further.

One note of caution. Any use of Gemini on Android does still save interactions for 72-hours within your account, even if Activity is turned off. Keep that in mind.