Google expands personalised AI search by linking Gmail and Photos to AI Mode
Subscribers to Google’s paid AI plans in the US can opt in to connect personal apps to Search, allowing results to draw on emails and images while keeping user data out of model training.
Google is expanding its Personal Intelligence features to AI Mode in Search, allowing subscribers to connect Gmail and Google Photos to receive more tailored answers.
In a statement, Google said eligible Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States can opt in to securely link the two services to AI Mode. The feature is rolling out as a Labs experiment and is available initially for personal Google accounts using English.
The company said AI Mode can use personal context from Gmail and Google Photos to generate more relevant responses, such as travel itineraries, reminders or shopping suggestions that reflect a user’s past plans and preferences. For example, a search for holiday ideas could factor in previous bookings mentioned in emails or photos from earlier trips.
For a lay reader, this means Google Search can move beyond generic results and take account of information a user has already shared with Google, provided they explicitly allow that access. The company stressed that the connections are optional and can be turned on or off at any time.
Google said the feature runs on its Gemini 3 AI model but does not train directly on users’ inboxes or photo libraries. “You can always turn those connections on or off,” said Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search.
The rollout will take place over the next few days. Subscribers should receive an invitation within AI Mode or can enable the feature manually through settings. To switch it on, users open Search, tap their profile, select Search personalisation, choose Connected Content Apps and then connect Workspace and Google Photos.
Once enabled, users can correct or clarify recommendations produced by AI Mode and give feedback using a thumbs-down option. Google said this feedback will help improve the quality of responses without exposing personal content.
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The move reflects Google’s broader effort to differentiate its paid AI offerings by making Search more context-aware, while navigating growing concerns about privacy and data use. By positioning the feature as opt-in and limiting how personal data is handled, the company is seeking to balance more personalised results with user control.
If widely adopted, the update could change how people use Search, shifting it from a tool for finding information on the web to one that also helps organise and interpret their own digital lives.
The Recap
- Google adds Personal Intelligence to AI Mode in Search.
- Subscribers can opt in to connect Gmail and Google Photos.
- Feature rolls out as a Labs experiment in the U.S.
