This powerful Gemini setting made my AI results more personalized and accurate

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ZDNET Highlights

• Personal intelligence makes Gemini reactions more personal.
• This is taken from Google Apps, so no more manually adding references.
• You control what app data is used and you can disable it at any time.

Every day, a new AI feature or tool is launching, and the most popular chatbots, including Google Gemini, are constantly being upgraded. Start feeling a little dizzy. But Gemini recently introduced a feature that I think is worth trying out. Called Personal Intelligence, it combines data from Gmail, Google Photos, search history, and other Google apps to provide tailored responses.

So, instead of getting generic results from Gemini after entering the prompt, the response is personalized to me. What does this look like in practice? When searching for a product, I should not get the top selection. Results should reflect my previous purchases and preferences. If the device is troubleshooting, I don’t need to remember the model, as Gemini should see my email receipt.

Also: I tested ChatGPT Plus vs Gemini Pro to see which one is better

Personal Intelligence essentially removes the need to provide context again and again, which is one of my biggest gripes with AI.

How to Enable Personal Intelligence

what you’ll need: Personal Intelligence is available in the US and is now being made available to free and paid Gemini users. It only works with personal Google accounts and needs to be connected to Google services like Gmail or Photos, as it relies on your personal data.

How to Use Personal Intelligence

Now that Personal Intelligence is covered, let’s look at how to actually use it. Since this is running on Gemini Sites & Apps, Gemini in Chrome, and AI mode in Search, I’ll walk through a few use cases and share my results using Gemini in each.

Shopping Recommendations

I opened the Gemini app and entered a basic prompt: “I want to buy some summer toys for my child.”

I have a four-year-old daughter, but I intentionally didn’t mention her age, gender, or where we live to see what effect that would have on the Geminis. (To be clear, I believe any age-appropriate toy can be used by a child, regardless of gender, but I was curious what Gemini would do.)

“Seeing as you’re looking for toys for your daughter,” Gemini said immediately, pointing out that she was four years old and lived right where we lived. It also suggested and showed some options for hot, humid summer days, including water tables and sprinklers. Purple, waxed Chooses. It also recommended pink inflatable unicorn hopper and a 4-in-1 Minnie Mouse-themed play center.

Too: How to shop with AI: 6 ways I find deals, track prices, and let agents do the shopping for me

I’m looking to buy a water table, and the funny thing is that my daughter got a hopper from her grandmother last summer that she loved, but my dogs chewed it up, so I had to throw it away. I could improve another prompt for more recommendations, but the benefit here is clear. I entered a prompt without adding additional details about who I was shopping for and Gemini correctly guessed what I wanted.

I tried another prompt: “Use my favorite colors and brands.” Gemini then said that I often shop at Walmart and Amazon (guilty), so she focused on the brands available there. This time, it was shown Little Tikes Blue Beach Water TableTo which she said it matched my liking for blue and green colours. Bluey is my daughter’s favorite show, and I avoid buying too many pink or purple toys.

I suspect Gemini used my search history, chats or even email receipts to learn what I want and make recommendations.

looking for information

I wanted to further test personal intelligence through Google Chrome, so I decided to look up something about my specific vehicle to see if Gemini could identify me without me asking and provide accurate information. I clicked the little Ask Gemini button at the top of my Web browser and entered the following prompt in the chat sidebar: “I need new tires for my truck. What size?”

Gemini replied, “For your 2017 Ram 1500 Quad Cab,” and said it depends on the wheels installed and trim level. It provided two factory sizes and explained how to confirm by checking the tire information on the driver’s side door jamb or my truck’s tire sidewall.

Too: I gave Chrome’s AI agent permission to shop, research, and email for me — here’s how it happened

To be clear, I had never had Memory or Personal Intelligence enabled in a Gemini until today, so it’s interesting how it can pull it together so quickly. I’m assuming this would have used data from my previous Gemini chats or even other connected apps, like truck images in my Google Photos or perhaps old Gmail messages from when I financed the vehicle years ago. Either way, it was immediate.

Plan a trip and create an itinerary

Let’s switch to AI mode of search. I’m taking an island-hopping camping trip to the Thousand Islands between New York and Canada this summer. I already have an itinerary started in Google Docs, which includes details like boat rentals and park reservations. I just need to add some activities. Can Personal Intelligence help here by giving some suggestions for me?

Too: I Used These Viral Gemini Hints to Find the Cheapest Flight — Here Are the Results

My prompt: “I need recreational activities to do near where I’m camping this summer.”

I left out the location and exact dates, but of course, the AI ​​mode said, “In the 1000 Islands region, summer 2026 is packed with shore festivals, live music, and unique island adventures.” It said, “Since you’ll be camping in July,” and recommended I see the local Independence Day fireworks and “legendary” antique boat show, and take the ferry to visit Boldt Castle.

Excellent. These are all activities I would add to my itinerary.

(Pro tip: If you’ve enabled autobrowse in Chrome, which I do, you can click the Ask Gemini button at the top of your browser and, without leaving your AI Mode tab, ask Gemini to add its suggested activities to your itinerary document or create a new one.)

What else can personal intelligence do?

Since Personal Intelligence uses your Google Apps data, the possibilities are endless. It can make suggestions based on patterns in your Google and YouTube searches, reading habits, photos, emails, calendar events, and documents in Drive. This means it can align your signals with your interests and daily life, without you needing to add that context.

Too: Gemini vs Copilot: There’s a Clear Winner

Gemini can suggest hobbies, local activities or events, and more. Even basic, everyday questions can benefit from personal intelligence, such as price comparisons, device troubleshooting, or looking up nearby retailers and restaurants. It’s a powerful, frictionless experience, because you don’t have to repeat yourself or write long, detailed signals to get useful results.

What is Gemini Personal Intelligence?

Personal Intelligence is a new Gemini feature, now rolling out in early 2026, that combines data from your Google apps to provide personalized responses instead of generic output. You’ll need to enable it in Gemini settings and connect apps like Gmail and Photos. This works on Gemini sites and apps, as well as in AI mode for Chrome and Search.

Who can use Personal Intelligence?

When Personal Intelligence first launched, it was exclusive to AI Pro and Ultra customers in the US. By March 2026Free-tier users with personal Google accounts in the US can also try it. This workspace is not available to business, enterprise, or education users.

Is it safe to try personal intelligence?

As personal intelligence connects apps like Gmail and Photos, privacy concerns are understandable. But remember, enabling it is completely optional, and you can choose which apps to connect or disconnect, and You can delete your data at any time.

Also: How to Turn Off Gemini in Gmail, Photos, Chrome, and More

Every time you turn on the toggle, you’re told that your data is used to personalize your Gemini experience and improve Google services. Google says this Doesn’t train its models on private Gmail, photos or Drive content, but it references that data in real time to answer queries. It also uses encryption and Google’s certified security architecture To protect data during storage and transfer.

Look Gemini Privacy Policy And support page To know more.

Is Personal Intelligence Worth Enabling?

I find that personal intelligence reduces the need to provide context and makes Gemini’s responses more personal and relatable. Of course, the trade-off is how much data you’re willing to share with Google. It depends on your comfort level.

Too: 5 reasons why you should be more cautious about your chatbot

While I enabled this feature for testing, I generally keep memory features off in the AI ​​tools I use and am selective about the apps I connect, as I’m very privacy conscious and often work with restricted, sensitive data.

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