Making a few tweaks to your settings can help you opt out.
Google has recently rolled out a significant change regarding how it collects user data for its AI initiatives. The company now has the ability to utilize media uploaded to its various search functionalities for AI training purposes, according to reports.
This new policy encompasses a wide range of media types, including images, files, and audio or video recordings. So, when you upload an image to Google Lens for a visual search, that image can be used for AI training. The same applies to audio used in Google voice searches and anything submitted through Google Translate. However, personal items stored in Google Photos remain unaffected by this change.
Currently, all users are automatically included in this data collection, as the demand for information to train generative AI continues to grow. Fortunately, for those uncomfortable with major corporations sifting through their personal media, there is a way to opt out.
To disengage from this data collection, you can modify your settings. Start by navigating to the specific Search Services History page and uncheck the “Save Media” option. Following that, visit the Search Services Personalization page to ensure that nothing is being saved. After making these changes, you should be set. Additionally, if you’d like to disable AI-generated results, you can prepend your search query with “-AI.”
It’s worth noting that modern AI systems don’t always seek permission to access our data, as some artists have discovered.
