How to stop Gemini from accessing your Gmail messages - Big Tech and the digital economy

Gemini can analyze Gmail messages to summarize emails, create task lists and draft replies. Google says it does not train its foundational AI models on personal emails, but users can disable smart features or adjust Search-related settings.

Google’s Gemini AI is now integrated into Gmail with features that can summarize recent messages, create to-do lists, draft replies and handle other organizational tasks. Some of these tools are enabled by default, raising concerns about how email data is processed.

Gemini must access the content of messages to complete these tasks. Google said in an April 2026 statement that it does not train its foundational AI models, including Gemini, on personal emails. According to the company, the information is processed for specific requests and is not retained afterward.

Google says similar protections apply to Workspace applications such as Chat, Calendar, Docs, Drive, Sheets and Slides. It states that Workspace data is not used to train or improve the underlying generative AI models used outside Workspace without permission.

That permission can change when users connect Google Workspace content apps to Search services, including features associated with AI Mode. Google says relevant emails and files may then contribute summaries, excerpts, generated media and inferences used to answer prompts. The company also says its generative AI models are trained on those derived materials, rather than directly on Gmail inboxes.

Users who want to disable Gemini’s Gmail features can open Gmail settings, select Smart features and deselect the relevant option. In the Gmail app, this can be done by opening the menu, choosing Settings, selecting an account and then accessing Smart features. Workspace integrations can be disabled through the Google Workspace smart features section. These changes apply across the account.

On the web, users can select the gear icon, choose See all settings and find Smart features in the General tab. They can then open Manage Workspace smart feature settings, disable both options and save the changes.

Disabling smart features may also turn off tools such as spelling and grammar checks. Users who want to retain Gemini features while limiting how information may be used to improve Google’s AI can instead review Search Services History and Personalized Recommendations.

Search Services History can be switched off through the associated Google account settings, and previously saved activity can be deleted. Users can also adjust Save Media settings to limit what is stored. Personalized Recommendations can be changed under Data & privacy and Personalization settings, where the feature can be enabled or disabled for Search services.

Sources: Engadget.