Gmail users urged to change two settings right now after reportedly being automatically opted into controversial feature
The worry is Google may be able to automatically access sensitive data and use it to train its AI
Gmail users are being urged to change two specific settings right now after users are reportedly being automatically opted into a controversial feature.
This comes after a tech expert raised the alarm over several features that have become a cause for concern.
And a major worry is that Google may now be able to automatically access the sensitive data of its users and use this to train its AI.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, engineering YouTuber Dave Jones wrote: “IMPORTANT message for everyone using Gmail.
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“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 everyone is aware.”
Many people took to the social media platform’s comment section to share their own reactions, with one user writing: “And turning these things off also turns off really useful features that don’t even need AI. GREAT.”
Another said: “oh good. it also disables inbox categories. wonderful. why do they have to keep making things progressively s****ier.”
A third person commented: “Seems like Smart Features are automatically disabled in the EU, Japan, Switzerland, and the UK, thank goodness.”
And a fourth added: “You lose many of unrelated features when you turn off the main smart features setting.”
How to opt out of the smart features on Gmail
If you want to opt out of these features, you’ll need to select the ‘see all settings' tab on your account before clicking on ‘smart features’.
From there, you’ll need to make sure that ‘turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet’ is not selected.
Afterwards, hit ‘Manage Workplace smart feature settings’, which will take you to a pop-up on the screen that will enable you to select or unselect features in Google Workspace as well as other Google programs.
A spokesperson for Google told the HuffPost that reports surrounding Gemini tracking private communications are ‘misleading’.
They went on to explain: “Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years, and we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model.
“We are always transparent and clear if we make changes to our terms of service and policies.”
In other AI news, one expert has issued a ‘doom timeline’, warning that AI could be the last technology that humanity will ever build.
If the expert is right, this could mean that humanity as we know could be at risk of coming to an end.