Google now uses your uploaded media to train AI models. Here's how to opt out immediately.

Google Expands Data Collection for AI Training

Google introduced a significant change to its Google privacy settings in June through an under-the-radar update announced via customer email. The company now collects and stores user data including images, files, audio, and video recordings uploaded to its Search services to improve AI models 1

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. This marks a shift from the company's previous approach, as it now harvests user-uploaded media for AI training purposes rather than relying solely on information scraped from the web 1

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The update introduced two new settings: Search Services History and Personalized Recommendations, which allow users to configure how their activity personalizes their Google experience and how long their web and app activity is saved 1

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. Users are automatically opted in by default, meaning anyone who hasn't actively changed their settings is already contributing their media to Google AI training 3

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What Media Google Collects Across Search Services

The data collection extends beyond Google Search itself to include Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Google Translate, and News 1

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. When you use Google Lens to search visually by snapping a photo, that image may now be saved for AI training. Similarly, if you use the newer Search Live feature to search via Google Voice Search input in the Google app, those audio recordings could be saved 1

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Google Translate data is also affected—if you use the service to practice speaking, that audio is saved too 1

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. Google confirms this use directly in its customer communication, stating that "saved media is also used to develop and improve Google services and technologies, including AI models and safety measures" 1

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. The company's help documentation notes it uses this history to "provide, develop, and improve its services (such as training generative AI models)" 1

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How to Opt Out of Google AI Training

Users who want to prevent their user-uploaded media for AI from being collected have several options. Those who already have their Web & App Activity turned off don't need to worry, as Search Services History is automatically disabled when the parent setting is turned off 2

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. For everyone else, you need to take action.

To stop Google Lens data collection and other media harvesting, head to the Search Services History settings page and uncheck the "Save Media" box separately from the "Search Services History" box, or uncheck both 1

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. You can also configure how often saved data is automatically deleted—after 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months 1

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. Additionally, visit the Search Services Personalization page to ensure it's not saving anything 3

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Industry-Wide Shift in Data Collection Practices

This change reflects a broader industry shift toward gathering user-generated data by any means necessary to improve AI services 1

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. Meta is another example of a consumer-facing tech company doing this at scale, training its AI models on users' images and media, as well as on content recorded by its AI glasses 1

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. The gaping maw of generative AI needs data to feed on, and it's running out of readily available sources 3

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What Users Should Watch For

Taking action now matters because while deleting your history disconnects it from your account immediately, anonymized data can still sit in Google's AI training systems for up to four years 4

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. The privacy policy update essentially opted people into this expanded AI training under the guise of giving users more control over their saved history and personalized recommendations 1

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. Users should regularly review their privacy settings as companies continue to adjust their data collection practices to fuel AI development.