Google is rolling out a massive update for its Gemini AI today called Personal Intelligence. The feature, which is launching as a beta for paid Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S., allows the assistant to pull details directly from your Gmail, Google Photos, and YouTube history to solve real-world problems.
Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs, describes the update as a shift toward a truly helpful assistant. “The best assistants don’t just know the world; they know you and help you navigate it,” Woodward said in today’s announcement.
To show how it works, Woodward shared a story about being at a tire shop and needing his van’s license plate number.Instead of walking back to the parking lot, he asked Gemini. The AI found a picture of the plate in his Google Photos and checked his Gmail to confirm the vehicle’s specific trim.
Woodward noted that while any chatbot can find general specs, Gemini went further by analyzing family road trips found in his photos to suggest all-weather tires instead of standard ones. “Just like that, we were set,” he said.
Google is clearly aware that letting an AI “read” your life is a big ask. The feature is off by default, and users have to manually choose which apps to link.
Addressing data concerns, Woodward stated, “Gemini doesn’t train directly on your Gmail inbox or Google Photos library.” Instead, the AI references your files only to answer your specific questions. Google says it trains the underlying model on the conversation itself, but only after personal data has been stripped out.
“We don’t train our systems to learn your license plate number; we train them to understand that when you ask for one, we can locate it,” Woodward explained.
While the beta is currently U.S.-only, Canadians likely won’t be waiting long. Last month, Canada was the first international market to get the “Gemini for Home” early access program, suggesting Google is moving quickly to expand outside the U.S.
Adding more weight to the launch, Apple and Google recently confirmed that Gemini will help power the next generation of Siri. This means these “Personal Intelligence” features could eventually be the backbone of how Siri handles your requests on the iPhone later this year.
Update: A Google spokesperson confirmed to iPhone in Canada that the new Personal Intelligence features are rolling out today, January 14, only for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
The rollout covers Gemini across the web, Android, and iOS. While the initial beta is limited to personal Google accounts in the U.S., the company plans to expand the feature to more countries and free-tier users soon. Google also noted that the functionality will be integrated into Search’s “AI Mode” in the near future. Currently, the feature is not available for Workspace business, enterprise, or education accounts.
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Now if they can focus on gemini for home being horrid that would be.