AI, Google’s search conversational feature for complex questions, is getting more personalized. The tech giant announced Thursday that it is bringing “Personal Intelligence” to its AI function, allowing it to leverage Gmail and Google Photos to provide more personalized responses.
The company debuted Personal Intelligence last week in the Gemini app to let the AI assistant tailor its responses by connecting your Google ecosystem, starting with Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube history.
Opt-in is now rolling out in AI mode to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in English in the US
By bringing Personal Intelligence to Gemini and AI, Google is leveraging the wealth of user data already in its ecosystem. Since users already rely on services like Gmail and Photos, Google can offer more personalized experiences that competitors can’t easily match. Of course, not everyone wants AI to see their photos and emails, so you can turn Personal Intelligence on or off at any time.
“With Personal Intelligence, recommendations don’t just match your interests — they fit seamlessly into your life,” explained Robby Stein, VP of Product, Google Search. blog post. “You don’t have to constantly explain your preferences or existing plans, it chooses suggestions just for you, from scratch.”
Let’s say you’re planning a vacation and looking for things to do and places to eat that everyone in your family will enjoy. With Personal Intelligence, AI Mode can draw on your hotel reservations in Gmail and past travel memories in Google Photos to suggest a customized itinerary with something for everyone. For example, you might see suggestions like an old ice cream parlor based on the many ice cream selfies stored in Google Photos.
Google notes that the AI feature won’t just give you a generic list of restaurants and activities. Instead, it provides a personalized starting point for planning.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
|
13-15 October 2026
“Personal intelligence can also be especially useful for shopping, because the AI function takes into account the types of items you buy and where you shop,” Stein wrote. “If you need a new coat for your upcoming trip, the AI feature could automatically take into account your preferred brands as well as your flight confirmation in Gmail to determine the destination and time (Chicago in March). You’ll get recommendations for windproof, versatile coats that match the weather and your preferred look. It’s like a personal shopper you already know.”
Google says other questions you could ask are: “Do a scavenger hunt [partner’s name] to celebrate our anniversary. For each location, include a hint about us” or “Decoration [child’s name ]bedroom, give me theme ideas and decorating suggestions.”
The company notes that the AI feature is not trained directly on your Gmail inbox or Google Photos library. Instead, it trains on specific prompts and the model’s responses.
