Google is expanding its AI-powered features across Android devices and Gmail, prompting privacy concerns among its 2 billion users. The company’s AI, including its Gemini model, will access content such as messages and calls, raising questions about data security and user consent.
Recently, Google sent an email suggesting that Gemini would analyze data from apps like Phone, Messages, and WhatsApp regardless of the user’s activity settings. This caused alarm, but Google later clarified that:
- Gemini can assist with tasks such as sending messages and making calls even if the “Gemini Apps Activity” setting is off.
- With this activity setting disabled, Gemini does not review personal chats or use them to improve its AI models.
- However, interactions are still temporarily saved for up to 72 hours within the user’s account.
This update aims to balance AI functionality with privacy, but users remain wary. Unlike Gmail’s AI upgrades, which lack clear opt-out options, Google says the Android integration offers better transparency and control.
Privacy experts warn that even limited AI access to sensitive data like call logs and private messages presents risks. The rollout also coincides with Gemini’s introduction in educational settings, where it will support tasks such as lesson planning and real-time feedback, sparking debates over AI’s influence on learning and student privacy.
In its Gen AI and LLM Data Privacy Ranking 2025, Incogni highlights widespread user unawareness about the data privacy implications of AI tools embedded in operating systems from Google, Microsoft, and Apple. The report notes increasing risks of unauthorized data sharing and misuse as AI features become deeply integrated into daily technology use.
Compared to peers, Google performs relatively better on transparency and data handling, though concerns persist. TechRadar points out that Gemini for Education follows strict data protection measures, ensuring student data is not used for AI training or reviewed by humans.
As AI gains a larger role in communication and education, users face complex choices about convenience and privacy, emphasizing the need for clearer options and better awareness.