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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google’s Personal Intelligence Mode is coming to all users.
- It uses data from connected Google services, such as Gmail and Search.
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The feature lets Gemini give you personalized help and advice.
A hyper-personalized Gemini mode is now rolling out to all users.
In a recent post, Google explained that it’s making Personal Intelligence available to all users. The feature, which debuted earlier this year exclusively for subscribers paying $20 a month, essentially gives Gemini a wealth of personal information, enabling it to offer personalized help rather than generic answers. The data comes from Gmail, your Search history, Google Photos, and other Google services.
Also: Google’s AI Mode can search your email and photos now too – how it works
Personal Intelligence is entirely opt-in, and you choose what you want to share. To turn it on, go to gemini.google.com > Settings > Personal Intelligence, then choose which apps you want it to connect to.
Google offered a few suggestions for using the new tool. You might ask for a jacket to go with the shirt you just bought, for tech support for your new robot vacuum (even if you don’t know the specific model), for a lunch suggestion on your upcoming flight layover (you’ll get suggestions based on the kind of food you like and the airport gate you’re near), or for things to do on your upcoming trip (Personal Intelligence will know where you’re going and what you like to do).
Test driving Personal Intelligence
To test the feature, I used an example straight from Google’s post: — “I need new tires for my car.” The AI immediately responded with suggestions for both my car and my wife’s car (mentioning the make, model, and color of both vehicles). It told me the size I needed, offered several suggestions across different price ranges, along with reviews and feedback for each, and recommended local places where I could buy the tires.
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When I made the same search in Google’s AI Mode without personalization, I got info on how to find my tire’s size, brand recommendations, and retailer options. The retailers weren’t customized to my area, though, as some don’t have a location anywhere near me.
Personalized mode was easily the more helpful option.
It was clear that AI Mode got my info from somewhere, but there wasn’t a link with citations. So I asked where those specific details came from. The AI responded that I had recent email service reminders for those particular vehicles. There were some older service reminders for another vehicle, it added, but there was also an email from my insurance company that mentioned the car had been totaled in an accident in 2024, so it wasn’t included. It added that my photo library contains several images of those vehicles, which helped confirm they are our current cars.
Also: Inside Google’s vision to make Gmail your personal AI agent command center
I followed up with a request to find a new t-shirt for my favorite team. AI Mode showed options for my favorite baseball team, my local NFL team, and my college team, even noting that I was “a frequent attendee” of games for the latter two. It even correctly suggested sizes based on other clothing order receipts it found in my email.
I’ve long since given up on any semblance of privacy online, but I was slightly unsettled by how quickly Personal Intelligence pulled up details about my life. I have to admit, though, it was surprisingly useful. If you’re at all privacy-concerned, this probably isn’t the mode for you, but if you don’t mind Gemini accessing your information that’s already floating around, you’ll quickly find numerous ways to use this new feature.
