On July 7 Google Gemini Will Have Access to Your Android Apps, Even If You Turned It Off
hubie writes:
Google Gemini is coming for your private apps. Here's how to stop it
Google recently informed some users that Gemini AI will have access to numerous new apps starting July 7th, 2025. These include messaging apps and messengers such as WhatsApp, and it applies regardless of whether you actually use Gemini as an app assistant or not.
In an email shared by Android Authority, Google states that they've "made it easier for Gemini to interact with your [Android] device" and that Gemini will "help you use" various apps "whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off." If you don't want this, you'll have to disable the feature in the Apps settings page, but Google hasn't yet provided an explanation of how this will work.
Fortunately, at the request of Android Authority, Google has clarified how this email was meant to be read:
"This update is good for users: they can now use Gemini to complete daily tasks on their mobile devices like send messages, initiate phone calls, and set timers while Gemini Apps Activity is turned off. With Gemini Apps Activity turned off, their Gemini chats are not being reviewed or used to improve our AI models. As always, users can turn off Gemini's connection to apps at any time by navigating to https://gemini.google.com/apps."
Basically, this means that starting July, Gemini will behave more like a local assistant on your Android device and it'll be able to help with simple tasks even if you don't use Gemini Apps Activity at all. Meanwhile, according to Google, the AI can't view private chats.
Read more of this story at SoylentNews.