Gemini can now scan your photos, email, and more to provide better answers (arstechnica.com)

Google has announced a major enhancement to its Gemini chatbot, introducing "personal intelligence" that allows the AI to connect to user data across Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube. This feature aims to deliver more tailored and contextually relevant responses by utilizing personal information, signifying a significant shift towards greater personalization in AI. As it’s currently an optional feature for paid users, it offers flexibility, allowing subscribers to selectively connect certain data sources while maintaining privacy over others. The implications for the AI/ML community are substantial. By integrating personal data, Gemini’s responses become increasingly nuanced and useful, as evidenced by a test where the chatbot utilized personal photos and details to provide targeted shopping suggestions. Google aims to leverage its vast user data to enhance the performance of its AI models, which are already leading in the field. Users have control over this integration, including the ability to disable data access at any time, ensuring a balance between personalization and privacy. As "personal intelligence" begins rolling out, it sets a new standard for AI interactions, emphasizing the value of contextually-aware technology.