From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.misc


A few countries have laws that mean Google has to default to it being
off / opt-in, but for most countries you have to turn if off / opt-out yourself. Yet another reason to never use any Google "services". X-(



Google wants to use your emails to train its AI
- here's how to turn that off
-----------------------------------------------
Once again, Google has decided for you that your data is its toy.
Here's how to stop Gmail from training its AI on your email.

There's no shortage of big tech companies that want to use your
data to train their large language models. Recently, I discussed
how Meta wanted Facebook users to grant it permission to upload
their entire camera roll to its cloud - perpetually.

This time, it's Google doing the data harvesting. Gmail now wants
to use your emails - including any attachments you have - to train
its AI models for features like Smart Compose and AI-generated
replies.

For some reason, Google has made this feature opt-out by default,
rather than opt-in. And, to make matters worse, it's actually
enabled in two different places, not just one, as spotted by
Malware Bytes.

I, as well as my cohorts here at AppleInsider, strongly suggest
turning the feature off. There's no reason Google should be able
to access sensitive data like emails from your healthcare
providers, utility bills and bank statements, or confidential
workplace conversations without your explicit permission, if at all.

Here's a quick guide on how to disable Gmail AI training - be sure
to do both, or else Google will still be able to use your data to
some degree.


Disabling smart features in Gmail
How to turn off Google's AI training for Gmail, Chat, and Meet

1. Open Gmail on desktop or via the iPhone app
2. Tap or click the gear icon and select Settings or See All
Settings
3. Scroll down to the Smart Features section
4. Uncheck the box that reads Turn on smart features in Gmail,
Chat, and Meet
5. Desktop users will need to click "Save Changes"


Disabling smart features in Google Workspace
Once you've completed that, don't forget to do the second part as
well.

How to disable Google Workspace Smart Features
1. Open Gmail on desktop or mobile
2. Tap or click the gear icon and select Settings or See All
Settings
3. Scroll down and tap or click Manage Workspace smart feature
settings
4. Toggle off Smart features in Google Workspace
5. Toggle off Smart features in other Google products
6. Click or tap Save if available


The setting applies to your account, not just the browser or app.
This means you'll only need to disable the feature once for it to
apply everywhere.

And, good news for users in the EU, Japan, Switzerland, and the UK:
apparently, Google's been compelled to opt you out by default - so
you won't need to make any of these changes.

As always, I suggest that you help friends and family who may not be
as tech savvy navigate these features. Especially if they don't know
what they're consenting to by using a service in the first place.



<https://appleinsider.com/inside/macos/tips/google-wants-to-use-your-emails-to-train-its-ai----heres-how-to-turn-that-off>





--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.misc

On 2025-11-24 07:01:15 +0000, Your Name said:

A few countries have laws that mean Google has to default to it being
off / opt-in, but for most countries you have to turn if off / opt-out yourself. Yet another reason to never use any Google "services". X-(

Google wants to use your emails to train its AI
- here's how to turn that off
-----------------------------------------------
Once again, Google has decided for you that your data is its toy.
Here's how to stop Gmail from training its AI on your email.

There's no shortage of big tech companies that want to use your
data to train their large language models. Recently, I discussed
how Meta wanted Facebook users to grant it permission to upload
their entire camera roll to its cloud - perpetually.

This time, it's Google doing the data harvesting. Gmail now wants
to use your emails - including any attachments you have - to train
its AI models for features like Smart Compose and AI-generated
replies.

For some reason, Google has made this feature opt-out by default,
rather than opt-in. And, to make matters worse, it's actually
enabled in two different places, not just one, as spotted by
Malware Bytes.

I, as well as my cohorts here at AppleInsider, strongly suggest
turning the feature off. There's no reason Google should be able
to access sensitive data like emails from your healthcare
providers, utility bills and bank statements, or confidential
workplace conversations without your explicit permission, if at all.

Here's a quick guide on how to disable Gmail AI training - be sure
to do both, or else Google will still be able to use your data to
some degree.

Disabling smart features in Gmail
How to turn off Google's AI training for Gmail, Chat, and Meet

1. Open Gmail on desktop or via the iPhone app
2. Tap or click the gear icon and select Settings or See All
Settings
3. Scroll down to the Smart Features section
4. Uncheck the box that reads Turn on smart features in Gmail,
Chat, and Meet
5. Desktop users will need to click "Save Changes"

Disabling smart features in Google Workspace
Once you've completed that, don't forget to do the second part as
well.

How to disable Google Workspace Smart Features
1. Open Gmail on desktop or mobile
2. Tap or click the gear icon and select Settings or See All
Settings
3. Scroll down and tap or click Manage Workspace smart feature
settings
4. Toggle off Smart features in Google Workspace
5. Toggle off Smart features in other Google products
6. Click or tap Save if available

The setting applies to your account, not just the browser or app.
This means you'll only need to disable the feature once for it to
apply everywhere.

And, good news for users in the EU, Japan, Switzerland, and the UK:
apparently, Google's been compelled to opt you out by default - so
you won't need to make any of these changes.

As always, I suggest that you help friends and family who may not be
as tech savvy navigate these features. Especially if they don't know
what they're consenting to by using a service in the first place.

<https://appleinsider.com/inside/macos/tips/google-wants-to-use-your-emails-to-train-its-ai----heres-how-to-turn-that-off>

Update November 24, 9:21 AM ET:
In an email to us, and presumably Malwarebytes who broke the story and
has since recanted some of it, Google says:

"These reports are misleading - we have not changed anyone's settings,
Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years, and we do not use
your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model," Google said.
"Lastly, we are always transparent and clear if we make changes to our
terms of service and policies."

Our own testing on Friday proved that the statement about changing
anyone's settings isn't quite accurate, though. We have added a line in
the piece showing that.


The change appears to be that the article now has a sub-heading saying:

While Google disagrees, the company may have decided again that your
data is its toy. Here's how to try to stop Gmail from training its AI
on your email.



--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2