Google reportedly shared an email to some users on Tuesday, which raised privacy concerns among some users. Several users posted screenshots of the email on social media platforms, highlighting a particular line where the company said that the Gemini AI assistant on Android will be able to connect to some apps, irrespective of whether App Activity is turned off. The confusion occurred since the feature is also called apps. However, it turns out that the Mountain View-based tech giant might be referring to something else altogether.
Google’s Email Might Have Been Misunderstood
In the email, the company said, “Gemini will soon be able to help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.” Later in the email, however, Google mentions, “If you don’t want to use these features, you can turn them off in the Apps settings.”
Now, the confusion was this. Gemini extensions that enable the AI assistant to connect to and perform tasks on first-party and third-party apps are also referred to as “Apps.” This led to users finding a contradiction in Google’s email. Users also felt that the company did not properly explain how to turn the feature off.
As explained by 9to5Google, “Gemini Apps Activity” refers to something entirely different. It is a setting, currently only available on the website, which controls whether Google saves user prompts exchanged with Gemini in an activity log or not. This setting is available via the profile menu on the mobile apps and in the side panel on the web client. You can also find it here.
When this setting is turned on, Google can use user data to “provide, improve, develop, and personalise Google products and services and machine-learning technologies.” The information is also available to human reviewers. When turned off, this data is deleted after 72 hours (once the server processes the data to generate AI output).
Earlier, when this setting was turned off, the Gemini AI assistant could not connect to on-device apps, as mentioned in the report. However, with the upcoming July 7 update, this will no longer be the case. Users will not need to enable activity logs to have Gemini connect to WhatsApp, Phone app, Messages, and Utilities.
It turns out that the update will not create any new privacy concerns, but instead alleviate an existing pain point for the company.
