Google is making its AI assistant significantly more capable by granting it a memory.
On 14 January 2026, the tech giant announced the launch of Personal Intelligence, a new beta feature that allows Gemini to securely connect with a user’s ecosystem of Google apps—including Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube, and Search—with a single tap.
Beyond General Knowledge: The Power of Context
While traditional chatbots excel at retrieving general facts, Personal Intelligence is designed to understand the user’s specific world.
According to Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs, Gemini & AI Studio, the system’s strength lies in its ability to reason across complex sources and retrieve hyper-specific details to provide “uniquely tailored answers.”
To illustrate this, Woodward shared a personal account of a recent trip to a tire shop for his 2019 Honda minivan.
“Standing in line at the shop, I realized I didn’t know the tire size. I asked Gemini,” Woodward recounted.
Not only did Gemini find the specs, but it also suggested all-weather options by referencing family road trips to Oklahoma found in his Google Photos.
When he reached the counter, Gemini even retrieved his seven-digit license plate number from a photo and identified the van’s specific trim via a Gmail search.
Privacy by Design: A “Key Differentiator”
Addressing the inevitable privacy concerns of such deep integration, Google emphasizes that the feature is off by default.
Users retain total control, choosing exactly which apps to link and possessing the ability to disconnect them at any time.
Furthermore, Mr Woodward highlighted a critical architectural advantage:
“Because this data already lives at Google securely, you don’t have to send sensitive data elsewhere to start personalizing your experience. This is a key differentiator.”
Crucially, Google confirmed that Gemini does not train directly on your private Gmail inbox or Google Photos library.
Instead, the model is trained on limited info—like specific prompts and responses—after personal data has been filtered or obfuscated.
Current Beta Limitations and Safeguards
Despite extensive testing, Google admits the beta is not yet perfect.
Users may experience “over-personalization,” where the AI makes incorrect leaps in logic.
Woodward noted that the model still struggles with nuance in changing life situations:
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Relationship shifts: It may not immediately grasp the context of a divorce.
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Misinterpreted interests: Seeing hundreds of golf course photos might lead Gemini to assume you love golf, even if you are only there to support a family member.
Additionally, Gemini has built-in guardrails to avoid making proactive assumptions about sensitive data, such as health information, unless explicitly asked by the user.
How to Access the Beta
The rollout for Personal Intelligence begins this week for eligible Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
It is currently available for personal Google accounts on Web, Android, and iOS, with plans to expand to the free tier and Search’s AI Mode in the future.