How to opt out of Google AI training: What builders need to know about the new privacy settings

Google has quietly updated its privacy settings to automatically save user-uploaded media for AI training unless you opt out. The change, announced in June via a customer email, introduces two new controls: Search Services History and Personalized Recommendations. These settings govern how your activity is stored and used for personalization and AI model improvement across Google Search, Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, and News. For AI builders and operators, this shift signals a broader industry move toward training models on user-origin data rather than relying solely on web-scraped content.

What happened

Google expanded its data collection for AI training by updating the Search services privacy settings. The company now stores media such as "images, files, and audio and video recordings" uploaded through its services and uses that data to improve AI models and safety measures. The change applies beyond Google Search itself, also covering Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, and News. For example, when you use Google Lens to search with a photo, that image may be saved for AI training. Similarly, voice input via Search Live and audio from Google Translate practice sessions can be retained.

Google confirmed the media-training use directly in its customer email: "Like your Search Services History, your saved media is also used to develop and improve Google services and technologies, including AI models and safety measures." Its help documentation adds that the company "uses your history to provide, develop, and improve its services (such as training generative AI models) and to protect Google, its users, and the public with the help of human reviewers."

Users can control this by visiting the Search Services History page. There, you can uncheck the "Save Media" box separately from the "Search Services History" box, or uncheck both. You can also configure automatic data deletion intervals of 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months. The update also separates Web & App Activity data retention from the new Search data setting, meaning changes to Web & App Activity no longer affect Search data storage.

Why AI builders should care

This update reflects a broader industry trend of leveraging user-uploaded data to improve AI models, not just web-scraped content. Meta is another example, training its AI on users' images and media as well as content from its AI glasses. For AI builders, understanding these data sources is critical when designing products that interact with Google services or when advising users on privacy controls.

The opt-out mechanism is straightforward but defaults to on. If you build tools that use Google services (e.g., Google Lens, Translate, or Search APIs), your users' media may be used for AI training unless they explicitly opt out. This has implications for data privacy compliance, especially under regulations like GDPR or CCPA, where user consent for AI training data may be required.

Practical implications

If users opt out by disabling Save Media, their uploaded media will not be used for AI training. However, standard personalization features may still operate based on other allowed data. The separation of Web & App Activity from Search data means that users who previously adjusted Web & App Activity settings to limit data storage must now also adjust the new Search data setting to fully opt out of AI training on media.

For product teams, this means you should review how your applications interact with Google's data retention policies. If your app uses Google services that involve media uploads (e.g., image search, voice input), you may want to inform users about these settings and provide guidance on how to opt out if they prefer.

Caveats

Evidence of this policy change is drawn from the TechCrunch article and cited sources; exact steps and UI labels may vary by region and account type. Some statements summarize company documentation and third-party reporting; future updates could modify settings or terminology. Opt-out steps may differ for enterprise or education accounts, and Google may change these settings without notice. Always verify the current state of your own account settings.

Additionally, this change does not affect Gemini app activity, which has its own separate opt-out settings. Users should check the Gemini Apps activity page to control whether their conversations with Gemini are used for training.

FAQs

How do I opt out of Google using my data to train AI?

Go to the Search Services History page and uncheck the "Save Media" box. You can also configure automatic data deletion intervals of 3, 18, or 36 months. This prevents your uploaded images, audio, and video from being used for AI training. For Gemini conversations, use the separate Gemini Apps activity settings.

What data does Google use to train its AI models?

Google uses media uploaded to its Search services, including images, files, audio, and video recordings. Examples include photos taken with Google Lens, voice input via Search Live, and audio from Google Translate. This data is used to develop and improve AI models and safety measures, as stated in Google's customer email and help documentation.

Which Google services are affected by the new AI training settings?

The settings apply across Google Search, Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, and News. Any media uploaded through these services may be saved for AI training unless you opt out.

Will opting out reduce personalized results or recommendations?

Opting out of Save Media prevents your uploaded media from being used for AI training, but standard personalization features may still operate based on other allowed data such as search history and location. The exact impact depends on Google's implementation and your other privacy settings.