On Thursday, Google introduced Gemini with personalization, an experimental feature designed to make the Gemini chatbot more intuitive. This new capability enables Gemini to access data from various Google services, allowing it to provide customized answers based on user activity and preferences. According to Gemini product director Dave Citron, this update is meant to make the chatbot feel like an extension of the user, offering truly personalized assistance.
In the ongoing competition among AI chatbots, Google is betting on personalized content to retain users. By integrating users’ internet habits, Google aims to deliver responses that are uniquely tailored to each individual.
On Thursday, Google introduced Gemini with personalization, an experimental feature designed to make the Gemini chatbot more intuitive. This new capability enables Gemini to access data from various Google services, allowing it to provide customized answers based on user activity and preferences. According to Gemini product director Dave Citron, this update is meant to make the chatbot feel like an extension of the user, offering truly personalized assistance.
“These updates are all designed to make Gemini feel less like a tool and more like a natural extension of you, anticipating your needs with truly personalized assistance,” Citron stated in a blog post published by TechCrunch. Early testers reportedly found it useful for brainstorming ideas and receiving tailored recommendations.
How Gemini with Personalization Works
Currently, Gemini with personalization integrates with Google Search and is expected to expand to additional services like Google Photos and YouTube in the coming months. This move aligns with other AI advancements, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which recently introduced code-editing capabilities for macOS, and Amazon’s Alexa, which is set for a major AI-driven upgrade.
Powered by Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental AI model, this feature assesses whether personal data from Google services—like search history—can improve the relevance of responses. Citron explained that Gemini will be most effective for questions related to personal preferences, such as:
- Where should I go on vacation this summer?
- What hobby should I start?
“For example, you can ask Gemini for restaurant recommendations, and it will reference your recent food-related searches,” Citron noted. “Or request travel advice, and Gemini will suggest destinations you’ve previously searched for.”
Addressing Privacy Concerns
While personalization enhances user experience, it also raises privacy concerns. The idea of an AI chatbot accessing personal data may be unsettling, especially if it unintentionally reveals sensitive information.
To mitigate these concerns, Google has made Gemini with personalization opt-in only, ensuring that users have control over their data. Additionally, the feature will not be available to users under 18 years old. Gemini will explicitly ask for permission before linking to Google Search history and other services. Users will also be able to see which data sources were used to customize responses.
“When you’re using the personalization experiment, Gemini displays a clear banner with a link to easily disconnect your Search history,” Citron clarified. Gemini will only access data when users opt in, have granted permission, and have Web & App Activity enabled.
Rollout and Availability
Gemini with personalization is gradually rolling out to users on the web, excluding Google Workspace and Google for Education customers. Mobile availability will follow soon. The feature will support over 40 languages and will be accessible in most countries—except for the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Citron hinted that the feature might not remain free indefinitely. “Future usage limits may apply,” he mentioned in the blog post, adding that Google will continue to refine the feature based on user feedback.
Additional Updates for Gemini Users
Alongside personalization, Google has announced several updates for Gemini Advanced, its $20-per-month premium subscription. Users can now access:
- A standalone version of 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, which supports file attachments.
- Integrations with Google Calendar, Notes, and Tasks.
- A 1-million-token context window (equivalent to about 750,000 words), enhancing Gemini’s ability to process complex prompts.
Google claims this upgraded model is more efficient and capable of handling multi-app requests, such as:
- Find me an easy cookie recipe on YouTube, add the ingredients to my shopping list, and locate nearby grocery stores that are still open.
Enhanced Research and App Connectivity
To compete with OpenAI’s research-focused tools, Google is enhancing Deep Research, Gemini’s feature for compiling reports from across the web. The updated version now shows its reasoning process and uses 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental by default, producing more detailed and insightful reports. Deep Research is now available for all Gemini users, with increased usage limits for Gemini Advanced subscribers.
Additionally, Google is making Gems—customizable, topic-focused chatbots—free for all users (previously available only to Gemini Advanced subscribers). In the coming weeks, Gemini will also integrate with Google Photos, allowing users to retrieve specific images from their gallery using AI-powered queries.
With these updates, Google aims to position Gemini as a smarter, more intuitive AI assistant. While personalization enhances user experience, it also raises concerns about data privacy and potential future paywalls. As AI assistants evolve, competition among chatbot developers like Google, OpenAI, and Amazon will likely drive even more innovations in the space.
For now, Gemini with personalization promises a more relevant and engaging AI experience, provided users are comfortable opting in to share their data.
