For many of us, our phone’s smart assistant is a daily companion. After all, they help us with everything from setting reminders to answering quick questions. But for some, the idea of every interaction being saved can raise privacy concerns. Good news, Android users: Gemini is about to offer a new way to get help without tracking all your “Activity”.
Google began sending emails announcing some very interesting news. Soon, users of the Gemini app will be able to access core assistant capabilities on their Android phones even if they have their “Gemini Apps Activity” setting turned off. This is a significant step for privacy-conscious individuals who still want the convenience of a smart assistant.
What is “Gemini Apps Activity”?
Currently, when the Gemini Apps Activity setting is enabled, your conversations with the AI assistant (prompts and responses) are typically saved to your Google account. In fact, you can access your activity history from myactivity.google.com/product/gemini. Google uses this data to “provide, improve, develop, and personalize Google products and services and machine-learning technologies.” It also means human reviewers might “read, annotate, and process” that data for improvement (AI training and refining) purposes.
Users have always had the option to turn this activity saving off. However, this meant losing most of the AI-powered assistant’s features. But soon, as reported by 9to5Google, you can still use Gemini for basic smart assistant tasks on your Android device.
The privacy benefit
This upcoming change offers a welcome boost for user privacy. It allows you to use your Android phone’s assistant for quick actions like calling contacts, sending messages, setting timers, or getting basic information, without your interactions staying in the activity history. This also means Google will not be able to use that data for personalization and product improvement.
Anyway, you should keep in mind that when using AI, the dream of “absolute and instant privacy” is a pipe dream. Even with “Activity” disabled, Google states that your “conversations will be saved with your account for up to 72 hours.” This temporary saving is for essential service provision, maintaining safety and security, and processing any feedback you might choose to provide. However, it’s distinct from the longer-term activity saving used for personalization.
This move gives users more control over their data, offering a more private way to engage with Gemini directly on their Android devices. It’s a positive development for those who value privacy while still wanting access to smart assistant features.
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