Google Gemini App Enhances Personalization and Privacy Controls
Google has announced a significant update to its Gemini app, introducing new features aimed at delivering a more personalized AI experience while giving users increased control over their data.
The latest enhancements include the ability for Gemini to learn from previous conversations, the rollout of a Temporary Chat mode, and a suite of updated privacy settings.
Personalized Conversations Powered by Past Chats
Central to the update is Gemini’s new capability to reference users’ past chats. By learning from previous interactions, Gemini can now provide more relevant and context-aware responses, making conversations feel more natural and tailored.
This feature is designed to transform Gemini from a generic assistant into a more collaborative partner that understands individual preferences and nuances.
The personalized conversation feature is initially available on Gemini’s 2.5 Pro model in select countries, with plans to expand to the 2.5 Flash model and additional regions in the coming weeks. The setting is enabled by default to maximize the benefits of personalization, but users retain full control and can toggle the feature on or off at any time.
Accessing this setting is straightforward through the Gemini app’s Settings menu under “Personal context” and “Your past chats with Gemini.” As always, users can manage and delete their conversation history via Gemini Apps Activity.
Introducing Temporary Chats for Greater Privacy
Recognizing that not every conversation should influence future interactions, Google is rolling out a new Temporary Chat feature. This option allows users to engage in chats that are not saved, do not appear in recent chats or Gemini Apps Activity, and are not used to personalize future Gemini responses or train Google’s AI models. Temporary Chats are retained for up to 72 hours solely to facilitate responses and process user feedback.
This privacy-focused mode is ideal for situations where users want to ask sensitive questions or brainstorm ideas without impacting their ongoing Gemini experience. The feature is launching immediately and will become available to all users over the coming weeks.
Updated Data Settings and Activity Controls
As part of ongoing improvements to user privacy and transparency, Google is updating how the Gemini app handles uploaded content, such as files and photos. In the coming weeks, the current “Gemini Apps Activity” setting will be renamed to “Keep Activity.” When this setting is enabled, a sample of future uploads may be used to help improve Google services for all users.
Those who prefer not to participate can simply turn off the setting or utilize Temporary Chats for additional privacy. Existing preferences will be preserved during the transition: if Gemini Apps Activity is currently disabled, the new Keep Activity setting will also remain off unless manually changed.
The “Gemini Apps Activity” settings page on a mobile phone, with the “Keep activity” feature turned on and the audio recordings option turned off.Additionally, Google recently introduced a control for users to decide whether audio, video, and screen shares submitted through Gemini’s mic button or Gemini Live are used for service improvement. This setting is off by default, providing users with the option to enable it as desired. More information about these privacy controls is available in the Gemini Apps Privacy Hub.
Commitment to Transparency and User Choice
Google emphasizes that these updates are rooted in a commitment to transparency and user empowerment. The company encourages users to explore and adjust their privacy settings as needed, ensuring that each individual can tailor their Gemini experience and data usage preferences. All information is handled in accordance with Google’s privacy policy.
The new features are currently available for consumer accounts belonging to users aged 18 and over. Changes related to uploaded content will apply to submissions starting September 2, 2025.