Google is extending its Personal Intelligence capabilities beyond the Gemini app and into AI Mode in Google Search, where users can opt in to connect their Gmail and Google Photos to receive more personalized AI-powered responses.

The update, announced yesterday on Google’s blog, expands how Search delivers results by incorporating a user’s own context, preferences, and past activity into AI Mode responses. The feature is rolling out as an opt-in Labs feature for eligible Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.

At its core, Personal Intelligence is designed to combine the scale of Google’s global knowledge with information that is uniquely relevant to each individual user.

When enabled, AI Mode in Search can reference contextual signals from a user’s connected Google apps—such as travel confirmations in Gmail or memories stored in Google Photos—to deliver responses that better reflect real-world plans, preferences, and habits.

Unlike traditional personalization that focuses on matching interests, Personal Intelligence is designed to account for real-life context—such as upcoming plans, past activities, and personal routines—so recommendations reflect how people actually live, not just what they’ve searched for before.

Rather than requiring users to repeatedly explain their interests, prior purchases, or upcoming plans, Search can factor in that context from the start. The result is recommendations that are tailored immediately—reflecting how people actually live, plan, and decide, rather than treating each query as an isolated request.

Google highlighted several early use cases during internal testing that illustrate how Personal Intelligence can shape Search results around a user’s real-life context:

According to Google, these examples are intended to reduce the need for users to repeatedly explain preferences, plans, or background information with each query—allowing Search to respond with relevant context from the outset.

Google emphasized that Personal Intelligence is strictly opt-in. Users choose whether to connect Gmail and Google Photos to AI Mode and can disconnect those apps at any time through Search personalization settings.

The company also stated that:

Google acknowledged that mistakes can occur, particularly when AI systems misinterpret context or draw incorrect connections, and positioned feedback as a core part of refining the experience.

Personal Intelligence in AI Mode is rolling out as a Labs feature and is currently available to:

Eligible users will see an invitation in AI Mode as the feature becomes available. The feature can also be enabled manually through Search settings by:

Q: What is Personal Intelligence in Google Search?
A: Personal Intelligence is a feature that allows AI Mode in Google Search to deliver responses informed by a user’s own context—such as emails or photos—when users explicitly opt in. It goes beyond general web results to tailor answers to an individual’s plans, preferences, and history.

Q: How is this different from Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app?
A: While Personal Intelligence was first introduced within the Gemini app, this rollout brings the capability into AI Mode in Search, extending personalized AI responses to Google’s core search experience rather than a standalone assistant.

Q: What Google services can be connected to Search?
A: At launch, users can opt to connect Gmail and Google Photos, allowing AI Mode to reference information such as travel confirmations or past memories when generating responses.

Q: Who can use this feature?
A: The feature is rolling out as a Labs experiment for Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S., using personal Google accounts. Workspace, enterprise, and education accounts are not currently supported.

Q: How does Google handle privacy and control?
A: Google says the feature is strictly opt-in, connections can be turned on or off at any time, and AI Mode does not directly train on users’ Gmail inboxes or Google Photos libraries. Feedback tools are also built in to correct errors or misinterpretations.

Google’s move to bring Personal Intelligence into Search isn’t just about better recommendations—it’s about reducing the friction people experience when planning, shopping, or making everyday decisions online.

Today, Search often requires users to repeatedly explain context: upcoming trips, preferences, past purchases, or family needs. By allowing AI Mode to optionally draw from information users already store in Gmail and Google Photos, Google is testing a model where Search can respond with relevant context from the start—saving time and reducing the mental effort involved in getting useful answers.

The implications are especially meaningful for users juggling complex planning tasks, such as coordinating travel, shopping for weather-appropriate clothing, or organizing family activities. Instead of piecing together information across multiple searches and apps, AI Mode can begin to connect those dots in one place.

At the same time, Google’s cautious rollout underscores the sensitivity of this approach. By making Personal Intelligence opt-in, limiting access to certain subscription tiers, and keeping Workspace accounts excluded, the company is signaling that deeper personalization must be balanced with trust, transparency, and user control.

If successful, this approach could reshape how people interact with Search—not as a tool for isolated queries, but as a system that supports ongoing decision-making across everyday life. For users, that could mean fewer generic results and less repetition. For Search itself, it represents a step toward relevance that’s shaped by lived context, not just keywords.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.