What’s happened? After the X user @eevblog shared alleged screenshots of Google automatically opting everyone in to let Gmail access their messages and attachments, Gmail issued a public statement denying the claim.
- Gmail says that the platform hasn’t changed anyone’s settings without their consent.
- “We do not use your Gmail content to train our Gemini AI model,” mentions an X post from the official Gmail account.
- The platform emphasizes that “Smart Features,” the one that helps in tracking orders or automatically populating calendar items, have existed “for many years.”
IMPORTANT message for everyone using Gmail. You have been automatically OPTED IN to allow Gmail to access all your private messages & attachments to train AI models. You have to manually turn off Smart Features in the Setting menu in TWO locations.Retweet so every is aware. pic.twitter.com/54FKcr4jO2
— Dave Jones (@eevblog) November 19, 2025
Why is this important? If Gmail were indeed using our emails and attachments to train its AI model, it would raise some serious questions around privacy, consent, and data governance for millions of users.
- Because Gmail is among the most popular email services used for both personal and professional communication, any ambiguity about how Google uses that data can erode people’s trust in it.
- The structure of the settings is a bit complex, which could lead to confusion among users. Hence, the official statement comes as a big relief to users worried about their privacy.
Why should I care? If you were concerned about using Gmail for your day-to-day communication, Google’s update should help you decide.
- While the “Smart Features” toggle in my Gmail settings lets Gmail, Chat, and Meet use “content and activity” in these products, Google’s statement explicitly states that the data isn’t used to train Gemini AI.
- You may want to review your Gmail settings, especially the Smart Features toggle, and turn it off in case you aren’t using it.
Let’s set the record straight on recent misleading reports. Here are the facts:• We have not changed anyone’s settings. • Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years.• We do not use your Gmail content to train our Gemini AI model.We are always transparent and…
— Gmail (@gmail) November 21, 2025
OK, what’s next? We should see Google streamline and clarify its data-use settings, making it clearer what “Smart Features” and “personalization” mean and how they differ from data used to train an AI model.
- Regulators and privacy advocates could push for formal disclosure or opt-in requirements for AI training uses of content.
- For users, this could be an alert to check the settings of every app or platform they use daily.
