Google Gemini just got smarter, but the trade-off could be your data

Google officially launches 'Gemini with personalization', but you might want to think twice before granting this AI access to your search history.

Last week we reported that Gemini would soon be able to look up your search history, and Google has now confirmed this is true as it rolls out ‘Gemini with personalization’.

Powered by the experimental Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model, the update allows Gemini to access your Google apps and services, starting with Search. When you ask Gemini a question, it will not only draw on information published online, but also your own search history, helping it to better understand your needs and deliver more precise results.

Gemini with personalization is already available as an experimental feature to online users of Gemini and Gemini Advanced, and will gradually roll out to mobile devices. It’s available in more than 45 languages across most countries – but not the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the UK.

This sounds like good news for Gemini users, but it does also raise privacy and data security concerns. Google has reassured users that they’re in control, stating that you must opt in to the new feature, and you can also disconnect your search history from Gemini whenever you like.

It says Gemini will access your search history only when its advanced reasoning models determine that doing so is useful – and that this doesn’t mean your data isn’t being collected.

Google can’t blame us for being concerned about Gemini’s data-collecting habits: according to new research from Surfshark, Google’s AI collects more user data than any other chatbot. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT and DeepSeek AI collect 10 and 11 types of data respectively, Gemini gathers a staggering 22 types of data.