Google Gemini Can Now Use Your Search History to Provide Personalized Responses

[MacRumors]

Google's Gemini AI product is now able to absorb a user's search history in order to provide more personalized information, Google announced today. The Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model is able to connect to Google apps and services to tailor responses based on past searches.

Google says that this feature will save time and will provide users with "more precise answers." For now, Gemini is only able to read search history, but in the future, it will be able to connect with other Google apps and services. Gemini's access to search history is opt-in, and it is experimental at this time.

In the Gemini app, users can use the model menu to select "Personalization" to connect their Google search history. When making a request, Gemini will then analyze search history to see if it is able to enhance a response.

Google says that search history will only be used when its reasoning models decide that it's helpful, and that early testers have found the feature useful for brainstorming and personalized recommendations.

Gemini with personalization is available to Gemini and Gemini Advanced subscribers on the web, and will be rolling out on mobile soon.

Article Link: Google Gemini Can Now Use Your Search History to Provide Personalized Responses

 

[ForkHandles]

Just why would you?

Absolutely crazy intrusion.

 

[ss2cire]

right now it's opt-in.... eventually that won't be an option. time to dump google. why would I want my search history to help with "personalized" responses? generally im looking for something **I don't know about**.... nothing *personalized* about that.

 

[HJM.NL]

In the meantime… Siri isn’t capable of understanding anything.

 

[anthogag]

Google's AI "personalization", a.k.a "fish bowl"; it's their world, you just live in it 🫢

 

[anthogag]

In the meantime… Siri isn’t capable of understanding anything.

Are you still using an older iPhone? or perhaps you don't even use iPhone... I have 16 Pro. Siri seems to be alright for my inquiries.

 

[dominiongamma]

Just why would you?

Absolutely crazy intrusion.

At least their AI works unlike Apple’s mess

 

[Taipan]

People who like AI will probably find this a good thing.

 

[gleepskip]

At least their AI works unlike Apple’s mess

Just wait for WWDC. Apple will demo even more features they will not complete by WWDC 2026.

 

[rgwebb]

In the meantime… Siri isn’t capable of understanding anything.

Perfect.

 

[sw1tcher]

Google's Gemini AI product is now able to absorb a user's search history in order to provide more personalized information.... The Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model is able to connect to Google apps and services to tailor responses based on past searches.

right now it's opt-in.... eventually that won't be an option. time to dump google. why would I want my search history to help with "personalized" responses? generally im looking for something **I don't know about**.... nothing *personalized* about that.

Personalized information and responses is just another way of saying advertisements. That's what Google wants to serve you. Alphabet needs this as their ad revenue as a percent of overall company revenue is on the decline.

 

[dannyyankou]

And this is why I’ll be patient and wait it out on Apple Intelligence. As much of a trainwreck that and Siri has been, I feel a lot better about them when it comes to privacy. I’m not naive and know Apple probably collects more information than they lead on, but compared to Google, they’re better.

 

[Artemiz]

At least their AI works unlike Apple’s mess

Cuz Google processes all the requests on their servers which is terrible for privacy.

 

[ZeromusZeromus]

Google should release Google Classic which would show you search results based on the good old days of algorithms before they ruined their own product. “Don’t be evil” lol indeed

 

[canadianreader]

Just why would you?

Absolutely crazy intrusion.

I wouldn't be surprised if Google already trained their models on people's gmail accounts not only browsing history.

 

[chrono1081]

No thanks. Ever. Not only is Gemini garbage (seriously I have never once gotten an accurate response from it when I google something and even better, you can refresh the page and get a different incorrect response!), but Google became a nasty company. "Do no evil" my ass.

 

[Aeronauts]

Another reason to switch to DuckDuckGo.

 

[mansplains]

At least their AI works unlike Apple’s mess

You sure about that?

 

[ifxf]

Will be no better than local advertisements that appear weeks after I leave a country that I visit.

 

[Corpuscle]

In the meantime… Siri isn’t capable of understanding anything.

Siri works very well for me. Granted, I've not yet asked Siri to develop the Extra Special Theory of Relativity, but I ask her all the time to turn on and off devices, set a reminder or calendar event, give me a definition of a word, etc, and she does a very good job the vast majority of the time.

Have you ever started to go to sleep and then remember you needed to do something the next day? I have a mini Homepod in the bedroom, and I simply say, "Hey Siri, remind me to do xxx tomorrow at 10 am". Siri confirms my request, and I don't have to worry about forgetting to do that task. Sometimes I just love Siri.

I'm aware of the Siri hate here, but I suspect much of that isn't warranted if one has reasonable expectations of what Siri can do.

 

[ifxf]

Cuz Google processes all the requests on their servers which is terrible for privacy.

Amazing, you rather have an AI that doesn’t work but preserves privacy versus one that sometimes works.

 

[HJM.NL]

Siri works very well for me. Granted, I've not yet asked Siri to develop the Extra Special Theory of Relativity, but I ask her all the time to turn on and off devices, set a reminder or calendar event, give me a definition of a word, etc, and she does a very good job the vast majority of the time.

Have you ever started to go to sleep and then remember you needed to do something the next day? I have a mini Homepod in the bedroom, and I simply say, "Hey Siri, remind me to do xxx tomorrow at 10 am". Siri confirms my request, and I don't have to worry about forgetting to do that task. Sometimes I just love Siri.

I'm aware of the Siri hate here, but I suspect much of that isn't warranted if one has reasonable expectations of what Siri can do.

You have probably never used a working assistant and are happy with timers and alarms.

 

[HMI]

….. even if you’ve had it paused since 2011.

 

[HJM.NL]

Cuz Google processes all the requests on their servers which is terrible for privacy.

And Apple is also planning to serve you with ads. How is that with privacy?

 

[tweaknmod]

Siri works very well for me. Granted, I've not yet asked Siri to develop the Extra Special Theory of Relativity, but I ask her all the time to turn on and off devices, set a reminder or calendar event, give me a definition of a word, etc, and she does a very good job the vast majority of the time.

Have you ever started to go to sleep and then remember you needed to do something the next day? I have a mini Homepod in the bedroom, and I simply say, "Hey Siri, remind me to do xxx tomorrow at 10 am". Siri confirms my request, and I don't have to worry about forgetting to do that task. Sometimes I just love Siri.

I'm aware of the Siri hate here, but I suspect much of that isn't warranted if one has reasonable expectations of what Siri can do.

I’m honestly glad it’s working for you. There are many many people for whom it works perfectly. That’s awesome.

I’ll give you an example of how it doesn’t work for me – something that happened today.

I was wearing my Apple Watch. My iPhone was on the table and the HomePod was playing music in the same room.

I simply asked Siri to stop the music. The music did not stop, but my Apple Watch told me that it was not able to help with that from my watch.

This is one small example of how Siri continually fails within, what I believe are, reasonable expectations.