Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Personal Intelligence makes Gemini responses more personal.
- It pulls from Google apps, so no more manually adding context.
- You control which app data is used and can disable it anytime.
Every day, there’s a new AI feature or tool launching, and the most popular chatbots, including Google Gemini, are constantly upgrading. It gets a bit dizzying. But Gemini recently rolled out a feature I do consider worth trying. Called Personal Intelligence, it connects data from Gmail, Google Photos, Search history, and other Google apps to provide tailored responses.
So, instead of getting a generic result from Gemini after I enter a prompt, the response is personalized to me. What does that look like in practice? When searching for a product, I shouldn’t get the top picks. Results should reflect my past purchases and preferences. If device troubleshooting, I don’t need to remember the model, since Gemini should see my email receipt.
Also: I tested ChatGPT Plus vs. Gemini Pro to see which is better
Personal Intelligence essentially removes the need to repeatedly provide context, which is one of my biggest gripes with AI.
How to enable Personal Intelligence
What you’ll need: Personal Intelligence is available in the US and is now rolling out to free and paid Gemini users. It only works with personal Google accounts and requires connecting to Google services such as Gmail or Photos, since it relies on your personal data.
Make sure you’re signed in to your Google account, then go to Gemini on the web or mobile app, and click your profile to access settings. This is where Google tucked away the controls for its new Personal Intelligence feature.
Also: How to switch from ChatGPT to Gemini
Once you locate the Personal Intelligence section, open it. From there, you’ll see options for Gemini to remember your past chats, connect to the Google services you use most, and customize responses, such as forcing Gemini to use more bullet points instead of paragraphs. All changes apply across Gemini, even in Search’s AI Mode.
In the Personal Intelligence menu, look for the Memory toggle and switch it on so Gemini remembers past chats.
Open the Connect apps section under the Personal Intelligence menu. Here, you can toggle on Google Workspace so Gemini can access Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Drive. Below that, you can enable Google Photos, Google Search, YouTube, Google Home, and YouTube Music.
Also: I tried Personal Intelligence, and it was accurate (but unsettling)
There are also “other” apps, including Spotify, OpenStax (retrieves passages from openly licensed textbooks), and SynthID (verifies whether media was made by Google AI by detecting a watermark).
How to use Personal Intelligence
Now that Personal Intelligence is switched on, let’s go over how to actually use it. Because it’s rolling out across the Gemini site and app, Gemini in Chrome, and AI Mode in Search, I’ll walk through a few use cases and share my results using Gemini across each.
Shopping recommendations
I opened the Gemini app and entered a basic prompt: “I want to buy my kid some summer toys.”
I have a four-year-old daughter, but I purposely didn’t mention her age, gender, or where we live to see what Gemini would surface. (To be clear, I believe any age-appropriate toy can be used by a kid, regardless of gender, but I was curious what Gemini would do.)
Gemini immediately said, “Given that you’re looking for toys for your daughter,” and mentioned she’s four and exactly where we live. It suggested options for hot, humid summer days, including water tables and sprinklers, and showed a couple of purple, flowery picks. It also recommended a pink inflatable unicorn hopper and a 4-in-1 Minnie Mouse-themed sports center.
Also: How to shop with AI: 6 ways I find deals, price track, and let agents buy for me
I am looking to buy a water table, and, funny enough, my daughter got a hopper from her grandma last summer that she loved, but my dogs chewed it, so I had to toss it. I could fine-tune another prompt for more recommendations, but the benefit here is clear. I entered one prompt without adding extra details about who I’m shopping for, and Gemini correctly inferred what I might want.
I tried one more prompt: “Use colors and brands I prefer.” Gemini then said I often shop at Walmart and Amazon (guilty), so it focused on brands available there. This time, it showed a Little Tikes Bluey Beach Water Table, which it said matched my preference for blue and green shades. Bluey is my daughter’s favorite show, and I do avoid buying too many pink or purple toys.
I suspect Gemini used my search history, chats, or even email receipts to deduce what I’d like and make recommendations.
Searching information
I wanted to test Personal Intelligence through Google Chrome next, so I decided to look up something about my specific vehicle to see if Gemini could identify what I drive without me saying and provide accurate information. I clicked the little Ask Gemini button in the top of my web browser and entered the following prompt into the chat sidebar: “I need new tires for my truck. What size?”
Gemini replied, “For your 2017 Ram 1500 Quad Cab,” and said it depends on the wheels installed and trim level. It gave two factory sizes and explained how to confirm by checking the tire information on the driver’s side door jamb or the tire sidewalls on my truck.
Also: I let Chrome’s AI agent shop, research, and email for me – here’s how it went
To be clear, I’d never enabled Memory or Personal Intelligence in Gemini until today, so it’s interesting how it could pull this together so quickly. I’m assuming it could’ve used my past Gemini chats or even data from other connected apps, such as images of the truck in my Google Photos or perhaps old Gmail messages from when I financed the vehicle years ago. Either way, it was instant.
Plan travel and build an itinerary
Let’s switch over to Search’s AI Mode. I’m doing an island-hopping camping trip across the Thousand Islands between New York and Canada this summer. I already have an itinerary started in Google Docs, including details like boat rentals and park reservations. I just need to add some activities. Can Personal Intelligence help here, by suggesting things for me to do?
Also: I used these viral Gemini prompts to find the cheapest flight possible – here are the results
My prompt: “I need fun activities to do near where I’m camping this summer.”
I left out the location and exact dates, but sure enough, AI Mode said, “In the 1000 Islands region, summer 2026 is packed with waterfront festivals, live music, and unique island adventures.” It added, “Since you’ll be camping in July,” and recommended I see the local Independence Day fireworks and “legendary” Antique Boat Show, and take a ferry over to tour Boldt Castle.
Perfect. These are all activities I’d add to my itinerary.
(Pro tip: If you have Autobrowse enabled in Chrome, which I do, you can click the Ask Gemini button at the top of your browser and, without leaving your AI Mode tab, ask Gemini to add the activities it suggested to your itinerary doc or create a new one.)
What else can Personal Intelligence do?
Since Personal Intelligence uses your Google apps data, the possibilities are endless. It can make suggestions based on patterns in your Google and YouTube searches, reading habits, photos, emails, calendar events, and documents in Drive. That means it can align your prompts with your interests and daily life without requiring you to add that context.
Also: Gemini vs. Copilot: There’s a clear winner
Gemini could suggest hobbies, local activities or events, and more. Even basic, everyday queries can benefit from Personal Intelligence, such as price comparisons, device troubleshooting, or looking up nearby retailers and restaurants. It’s a powerful, frictionless experience, since you don’t have to repeat yourself or write long, detailed prompts to get useful results.
What is Gemini Personal Intelligence?
Personal Intelligence is a new Gemini feature, now rolling out as of early 2026, that connects data from your Google apps to provide personalized responses instead of generic outputs. You must enable it in Gemini settings and connect apps such as Gmail and Photos. It works across the Gemini site and app, as well as Gemini in Chrome and Search’s AI Mode.
Who can use Personal Intelligence?
When Personal Intelligence first launched, it was exclusive to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US. As of March 2026, free-tier users with personal Google accounts in the US can also try it. It’s not available to Workspace business, enterprise, or education users.
Is Personal Intelligence safe to try?
Since Personal Intelligence connects apps like Gmail and Photos, it’s understandable to have privacy concerns. But remember, it’s totally optional to enable, and you can choose which apps to connect or disconnect, and you can delete your data at any time.
Also: How to turn off Gemini in Gmail, Photos, Chrome, and more
Each time you switch on a toggle, you’re told your data is used to personalize your Gemini experience and improve Google services. Google says it does not train its models on private Gmail, Photos, or Drive content, but it does reference that data in real time to answer queries. It also uses encryption and Google’s certified security infrastructure to protect data during storage and transfer.
See Gemini’s privacy policy and support page to learn more.
Is Personal Intelligence worth enabling?
I find Personal Intelligence reduces the need to provide context and makes Gemini’s responses more personal and relevant. The trade-off, of course, is how much data you’re willing to share with Google. It depends on your comfort level.
Also: 5 reasons you should be more tight-lipped with your chatbot
While I enabled the feature to test it, I generally keep memory features off in the AI tools I use and am selective about the apps I connect, as I’m very privacy-conscious and often work with embargoed, sensitive data.
