Google Auto-Enrolls Users in AI Training on Images, Voice and Video, With 3- to 36-Month Retention
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 14
Google Auto-Enrolls Users in AI Training on Images, Voice and Video, With 3- to 36-Month Retention
2 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 14
Summary
Google quietly updated Search settings last month to automatically include signed-in users’ uploaded images, audio, video and files in AI training unless they opt out.
The expanded policy covers media saved in Search Services History from tools such as visual search, Circle to Search, voice search and Google Translate practice, which Google says may be used to develop AI models and related services.
Users can disable the feature in the Google app’s Search history and Search personalization settings, or at myactivity.google.com, and can separately turn off “Save media.”
If left on, Google lets users choose auto-delete windows of 3 months, 18 months or 36 months, while personalized ads can also be disabled through My Ad Center.
The change broadens the data Google can use for AI beyond text interactions, sharpening privacy concerns as the company pushes more AI-driven search features.