Google is taking a significant step forward in personalised search by expanding its Personal Intelligence feature to AI Mode within Google Search. This innovative expansion will enable the company's advanced AI tool to access information from users' Gmail accounts and Google Photos libraries, creating highly tailored search responses that reflect individual preferences and needs.
Personal Intelligence Integration: Availability and Access Details
The option to link AI Mode with Gmail and Google Photos is being introduced as an experimental feature under Google Labs. This functionality will automatically become available to eligible Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the United States who use English language settings once the feature begins its rollout phase.
It's important to note that this feature is specifically limited to personal Google accounts and will not function with Workspace business, enterprise, or educational accounts. As the rollout progresses over the coming days, AI Pro and Ultra users will receive invitations to test this experimental feature within AI Mode.
How to Enable Personal Intelligence in AI Mode
For users who don't immediately see the invitation, manual activation is possible through these straightforward steps:
- Open Google Search and tap on the profile icon
- Navigate to Search personalisation settings
- Select Connected Content Apps
- Connect Workspace and Google Photos
How Personal Intelligence Transforms Search Functionality
Google asserts that with Personal Intelligence activated, recommendations will not merely align with user interests but will seamlessly integrate into their daily lives. The system eliminates the need for users to repeatedly explain their preferences or existing plans, delivering personalised recommendations from the initial interaction.
During internal testing with Personal Intelligence enabled for Gmail and Google Photos, Google reported that users discovered new things they wouldn't have considered or found through traditional search methods. One compelling example demonstrates this capability: when searching for new sneakers, AI Mode recognized a brand the user had recently purchased and suggested a new style they hadn't previously encountered.
Practical Applications of Personalised Search
Personal Intelligence in Search offers numerous practical applications that enhance everyday experiences:
- Travel Planning: When planning family getaways, AI Mode can reference hotel bookings from Gmail and travel memories from Google Photos to create personalised itineraries. Users receive tailored recommendations, such as interactive museums for children or ice cream parlours based on photos in their library.
- Smart Shopping: The feature assists with shopping by considering the types of items users purchase and their preferred shopping locations. For instance, when someone needs a new coat for an upcoming trip, AI Mode could analyze their preferred brands and flight confirmations in Gmail to identify destination and timing specifics. This results in recommendations for adaptable, windproof coats that match both fashion preferences and weather conditions.
- Creative Queries: Users can explore more imaginative questions like "If my life were a movie, what would the title and genre be?" or "Describe my perfect day," with responses informed by their personal data.
Privacy, Control, and Technical Implementation
Google has emphasized that Personal Intelligence was designed with transparency, choice, and control as fundamental priorities. Connecting Gmail and Google Photos remains an opt-in feature, allowing users complete discretion over whether and when to connect these applications to Search. Users maintain ongoing control, with the ability to toggle these connections on or off at any time.
Technically, AI Mode utilizes Google's advanced Gemini 3 model and does not directly train on Gmail inboxes or Google Photos libraries. Training is restricted to specific prompts within AI Mode, and the model's responses contribute to gradual functionality improvements over time.
Accuracy Considerations and User Feedback
Google has acknowledged that while Personal Intelligence in Search demonstrates significant helpfulness based on internal testing, occasional mistakes may still occur. The systems might sometimes incorrectly connect unrelated topics or not fully comprehend contextual nuances. When recommendations appear inaccurate, users can correct them by providing clarification through follow-up responses in AI Mode. Additionally, users can offer feedback by giving responses a "thumbs down" rating.
This expansion represents Google's ongoing commitment to transforming Search into a comprehensive service that intelligently links information across the various Google applications used by individual users, creating a more intuitive and personally relevant search experience.
