AI Mode, Google’s conversational search feature for complex questions, is becoming more personalized. The tech giant announced Thursday that it’s bringing “personal intelligence” to AI Mode, allowing it to leverage Gmail and Google Photos to provide more personalized responses.
The company debuted Personal Intelligence in its Gemini app last week. This allows the AI assistant to connect across the Google ecosystem, starting with Gmail, photos, searches, and YouTube history to personalize responses.
Select features are now starting to roll out in AI mode to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in English in the US.
By bringing privacy into Gemini and AI mode, Google is leveraging the wealth of user data that already exists within its ecosystem. Because users already use services like Gmail and Photos, Google can offer a more personalized experience that competitors can’t easily match. Of course, not everyone wants AI to check their photos and emails, so you can turn privacy on or off at any time.
“Personal Intelligence ensures that recommendations not only match your interests, but also fit perfectly into your life,” Robby Stein, vice president of Google Search products, explained in a blog post. “We pick the right recommendations from the start, without having to keep explaining your preferences or existing plans.”
Let’s say you’re planning a vacation and looking for things to do and places to eat that the whole family will enjoy. AI Mode uses personal intelligence to suggest personalized itineraries for everyone, leveraging hotel reservations from Gmail and past travel memories from Google Photos. For example, you might see recommendations like old-timey ice cream parlors based on a ton of ice cream selfies you have saved to Google Photos.
Google points out that AI Mode doesn’t simply provide general listings of restaurants and activities. Instead, it provides a personalized starting point for planning.
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“Personal intelligence can also be particularly helpful for shopping because the AI mode takes into account the types of items you buy and where you shop,” Stein wrote. “If you need a new coat for an upcoming trip, AI mode automatically identifies your destination and time of year (Chicago in March), taking into account your preferred brands as well as your flight confirmation in Gmail. You’ll receive suggestions for windproof, versatile coats that match the weather and your preferred look. It’s like a personal shopper who already knows your itinerary and the vibe you’re going for.”
Google says other questions you can ask include: “To celebrate our anniversary, let’s play a scavenger hunt for (partner’s name). Include a hint about us for each location.” Or say, “I’m decorating (child’s name)’s bedroom. Please give me some ideas for the theme and suggestions for decoration.”
The company notes that the AI mode isn’t trained directly on your Gmail inbox or Google Photos library. Instead, it learns specific prompts and the model’s responses.
