Google AI Mode is taking a major step toward personalised search, as Google expands its new Personal Intelligence capability to tailor AI-powered responses using data from Gmail and Google Photos. The update signals a shift in how Search works, moving from generic answers toward results shaped by a user’s own context.
Until now, Google Search has focused on understanding the world. With this update, Google AI Mode is designed to understand your world as well.
What Personal Intelligence Brings to Google AI Mode
Personal Intelligence allows Google AI Mode to securely reference information from connected Google services to deliver responses that are more relevant to an individual user. This includes details such as travel bookings stored in Gmail or location and memory cues from Google Photos.
Google says the feature is powered by its latest Gemini 3 model, which can interpret intent and context rather than simply scanning keywords. Instead of repeating details in every query, users can rely on the system to remember relevant information when generating answers.
For example, a search for things to do on an upcoming trip can trigger Google AI Mode to reference hotel confirmation emails and past travel photos, producing suggestions tailored to specific dates, locations, and preferences.
Real-World Use Cases: Travel and Shopping
The most practical benefits of Google AI Mode’s Personal Intelligence show up in complex, everyday scenarios.
For travel planning, the system can suggest activities based on confirmed bookings and previous trips, rather than offering generic tourist lists. Families searching for attractions may see recommendations aligned with past visits, interests, or age groups inferred from photo libraries.
Shopping queries also become more context-aware. If a user searches for a winter jacket, Google AI Mode can factor in upcoming travel destinations from Gmail, expected weather conditions, and even preferred brands based on past purchases, producing suggestions that feel less random and more intentional.
Beyond productivity, Google is also experimenting with creative prompts, allowing users to ask personal questions such as describing an ideal day or reflecting on past experiences using their own digital history.
Privacy, Permissions, and User Control
Given the sensitivity of email and photo data, privacy is central to how Google AI Mode implements Personal Intelligence. The feature is entirely opt-in, requiring users to manually connect Gmail and Google Photos before any personal data is referenced.
Google says users can disconnect these services at any time, immediately stopping access. Importantly, the company states that AI Mode does not train its core models directly on Gmail inboxes or Photos libraries. Personal data is used only to provide context for individual responses, not to retrain the underlying AI.
Google also acknowledges that mistakes can happen, including incorrect assumptions or mismatched context. Users can provide feedback directly within AI Mode to correct responses.
Availability and How to Enable It
Personal Intelligence in Google AI Mode is rolling out as a Labs experimental feature. It is currently available to personal Google accounts in the U.S. (English) that are subscribed to Google AI Pro or AI Ultra.
The feature is not available for Workspace business, enterprise, or education accounts.
Eligible users can enable it by opening Search, tapping their profile, navigating to Search Personalisation, and selecting Connected Content Apps to link Gmail and Google Photos. Some users may also receive invitations directly within AI Mode as the rollout continues.
Why This Update Matters
This update delivers a feature Google teased at I/O 2025 and later confirmed was still under internal testing. With Google AI Mode now serving tens of millions of daily users, Personal Intelligence could significantly reduce how much context users need to type to get useful answers.
For users, the benefit is convenience and relevance. For publishers, the implications are more complex. As Google AI Mode relies more heavily on personal context, some queries may be resolved without sending users to external websites. Google has not yet shared how this feature affects citations, traffic patterns, or publisher visibility.
The rollout is currently limited to paid subscribers, but any future expansion to free users would dramatically increase its impact.
Looking Ahead
Personal Intelligence marks a clear evolution in Google AI Mode, pushing Search closer to a true personal assistant rather than a neutral information index. How well Google balances usefulness, privacy, and ecosystem impact will determine whether users fully embrace this next phase of AI-powered search.
For now, this update offers a glimpse into a future where Search doesn’t just answer questions — it remembers who you are.
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