Just a few days, the My Data Zero team had reported on how Google had quietly sneaked in some AI features into Gmail by the “opt-in” method. Here’s the story, if you missed it.

Stop Google’s AI: Disable Gmail Smart Features And Protect Your Email Data

Now, Google has made an official announcement around it. Google has officially ushered Gmail into the Gemini era, unveiling a suite of artificial intelligence features designed to transform how users manage their inboxes. Powered by Gemini 3, the company’s latest AI model, the update introduces tools that promise faster, smarter, and more intuitive email experiences.

There’s a host of AI related features:

AI Overviews in Gmail: Borrowed from Google Search, these provide quick summaries of long email threads, highlighting the most important details.

Smart Reply Evolution: Context-aware, one-click responses that go beyond the basic “Yes” or “Got it.”

For those of you who want to read the official announcement, click here.

Privacy Concerns: Google is Largely Silent on Gmail AI Features

There are concerns about Gmail AI features, particularly around whether users are truly given a choice to opt in or opt out. Some users may be automatically enrolled, with only limited ways to disable the features, sparking debate about transparency and consent.

Key Concerns

• Automatic Opt-In Concerns: Several reports claim Gmail users are being automatically opted in to allow AI access to their private messages for training. Experts warn this could expose sensitive data without explicit consent.
• Opt-Out Complexity: To disable AI-related data use, users may need to turn off Gmail’s “smart features” such as spell check, order tracking, or Smart Reply. Critics argue this forces users to sacrifice useful tools just to protect their privacy.
• Transparency Issues: Privacy advocates highlight that Google’s messaging around these changes has been confusing. While Google denies using Gmail content to train Gemini AI, experts say the settings and defaults make it difficult for users to know what’s happening with their data.
• Risk of Sensitive Data Exposure: Concerns center on whether AI models could inadvertently access or process private emails, raising questions about compliance with data protection laws and user trust.

Denial of Misuse

So far, Google has only publicly denied claims that Gmail emails and attachments are being used to train Gemini AI, calling such reports “misleading.” The company insists that AI features rely on local smart tools rather than feeding raw email data into model training.

What do you think? Do comment below.