Jack Paul 
Google’s new AI feature connects user data across services
Google has introduced a new feature called Personal Intelligence for its Gemini AI system. The tool, which launched in beta on Wednesday, is designed to work across multiple Google services including Gmail, Photos, YouTube history, and Search activity.
It’s currently available to Gemini Advanced users in the United States, including those with Google One AI Premium subscriptions. Google says wider access will follow soon, though they haven’t provided specific timelines.
How Personal Intelligence differs from previous AI approaches
What makes this feature different, I think, is how it handles information. Previous versions of Gemini could access individual apps separately. This new system can reason across multiple services at the same time. It synthesizes insights from different sources to provide more tailored responses.
For example, if you’re planning a trip, it might pull information from your Gmail about flight confirmations, look at photos from previous vacations, check your YouTube history for travel videos you’ve watched, and combine that with your search history about destinations.
Google’s strategic positioning in the AI race
This move represents a shift in Google’s AI strategy. While other companies like OpenAI and Anthropic seem focused primarily on model strength and capabilities, Google appears to be betting on something different: context, distribution, and user trust.
The feature runs on Gemini 3, Google’s latest AI model. But perhaps more importantly, it leverages Google’s existing platform scale. With billions of users already using Gmail, YouTube, and Search, Google has access to a massive amount of contextual data that other AI companies simply don’t have.
Privacy considerations and user control
Of course, this raises questions about privacy and data usage. Google says the feature is designed with user control in mind, but details about exactly how data is processed and stored remain somewhat vague. Users will need to opt into the feature, and Google emphasizes that they can control what information is shared.
Still, it’s a significant step toward more integrated AI experiences. The system aims to understand not just individual queries, but patterns across a user’s digital life. Whether this proves genuinely useful or feels intrusive will likely depend on implementation and user preferences.
Some people might appreciate the convenience of having AI that understands their context across services. Others might prefer more compartmentalized approaches where different apps don’t share information so freely.
Google’s bet seems to be that enough users will value the personalized assistance enough to share their data. It’s an interesting approach in a competitive AI landscape where different companies are pursuing different strategies.