How to Control the Data Gemini AI Can Access on Your Android Device

Key Takeaways

• Gemini Replaces Google Assistant: Google's new AI assistant, Gemini, will soon replace Assistant, with access to your location, chats, and app data.
• Data Collection Concerns: Gemini stores data for up to 18 months, and some information may be reviewed by humans, including data from other Google apps.
• Limiting Data Access: You can't delete Gemini entirely, but you can limit its data collection by turning off specific settings in the Gemini app.
• Privacy Steps: Control your privacy by adjusting settings to limit what Gemini can access, and consider using privacy-focused alternatives for added protection.

First, a confession: I like Google Assistant. It's helpful and allows me to accomplish everyday tasks without unlocking my Android phone.

Just by saying, Hey, Google,' I can create a calendar reminder, set an alarm before I take a nap, or ask how old Ralph Macchio was when he appeared in the first The Karate Kid movie.

Oh, and I can say, lumos,' to turn on my flashlight and pretend I'm some wizard rather than the poor Muggle that I am.

But soon, Gemini will replace Google Assistant. According to the search giant, Gemini will provide a new kind of help only possible with the power of AI.'

Call me old-fashioned, but I don't need more AI. Whilst we found that tools like ChatGPT can impact your learning, I do still use it for my research, Canva's AI to generate images for my work, and my phone's built-in AI to make my moon shots more detailed than what's possible with its tiny image sensor.

Then there's the amount of data Gemini has access to. Aside from accessing Google apps like Calendar, Docs, and Maps, it can also interact with third-party apps like WhatsApp.

I admit that being able to tell an AI assistant to do things for you on your phone is cool and convenient (e.g., when you're driving), but I've been in the game for quite some time to not look for potential data leaks, too.

To illustrate, here's a tiny sample of the data that Gemini gathers when you interact with it:

• Location: According to Google, Gemini constantly collects your location to give you relevant answers to questions like what the current weather is or where the nearest coffee shop is.
• Chats: The AI virtual assistant will also have access to your chats and might share them with human reviewers. Chats are stored on Gemini's servers for up to 72 hours.
• Other Gemini activities include files you upload and information from connected apps. By default, Gemini stores this data for 18 months. Data reviewed by humans is kept for three years, although Google states that it is disconnected from your account.
• Other Google data: If you use Gemini to read your emails on Gmail, add your home and work addresses on Google Maps, or create events on your Google Calendar, then Gemini will also have access to data from these apps.

Of course, I can plug these leaks by checking what data Gemini has access to in which app, but who has the time for that?

6 Steps to Minimize What Data Gemini AI Can Access

Unfortunately, disconnecting yourself completely from Gemini as an Android user is easier said than done.

When I wrote this, I could still delete the AI assistant from my device and revert to Google Assistant. However, this won't be the case in the future when the former replaces the latter.

Unless you're willing to flash your phone with a custom ROM or switch to more privacy-focused alternatives to Google's apps, follow these steps to control what passes through Gemini.

1. Open your Gemini app, then tap your profile icon.

2. Tap Gemini Apps Activity.

3. Tap Turn Off', then tap Turn off and delete activity'.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Return to your profile icon, and tap on Apps from the menu.

6. Switch off the apps you don't want Gemini to interact with and share data with.

There you have it. Of course, it won't completely help protect your privacy, as data can still leak through the other apps you use on your device. But controlling what Gemini can access is a good start.

Your Data, Your Rules-At Least What's Left of Them

Just like Thanos, Gemini replacing Google Assistant is inevitable. AI is here, and with Google investing heavily in it, it's not likely to disappear anytime soon. But that doesn't mean you're completely powerless.

You can limit what Gemini accesses regarding your personal data with a few simple steps. If you'd like, you can consider switching to privacy-focused alternatives for your browser and email provider.

At the end of the day, the power to control your privacy is literally and figuratively in your hands.

The post How to Control the Data Gemini AI Can Access on Your Android Device appeared first on Techreport.