An alert of significance has been issued to numerous Gmail users, prompting attention for those who are uneasy about artificial intelligence scanning their emails. This cautionary message was shared online by Lori Greiner, a well-known American TV personality and entrepreneur.
Over the weekend, the star of Shark Tank took to Instagram to convey a message, urging individuals with Gmail accounts to be vigilant and share the information with their loved ones for added protection. The alert pertains to Google’s new AI capabilities, which involve scanning inboxes to offer features like smart searches, contextual responses, and email summaries. Despite Google’s assurance that it does not read messages for its own benefit, Greiner expressed apprehension.
In her Instagram post, the celebrity emphasized the importance of not overlooking the warning, stating, “Google has been allowing AI to scan all your emails, including sensitive financial and personal information, without your knowledge.”
If this revelation has raised concerns for you, there’s no need to panic as disabling this setting is a straightforward process. Greiner reassured users that they can deactivate AI in Gmail within 30 seconds by following these simple steps: Access Settings, click on “see all settings,” locate “Smart features,” and disable it in Gmail, Chat, and Meet. Additionally, users can manage Workspace Smart Features by unchecking boxes to further limit data access for AI.
Google maintains that personal data is never accessed by its team or third parties, ensuring the security of users’ information. The tech giant clarified that foundational AI models, such as Gemini, are not trained on personal emails, and any access granted to Gemini is solely for specific tasks and does not retain data beyond the immediate request.
However, for individuals uncomfortable with AI scanning their emails, it may be advisable to deselect the smart feature option in Gmail.
