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ZDNET's key takeaways
Google denies charges that it's analyzing your private emails to train its AIs.
A class action lawsuit accuses Google of privacy violations.
You may still want to opt out of the features in question.
Google is denying allegations that it has altered certain Gmail settings, which allow it to analyze private emails and other data to train its AI models without users' knowledge or permission. These allegations cropped up earlier this month in the wake of a class action lawsuit charging the company with privacy violations over this supposed change.
Also: Are AI browsers worth the security risk? Why experts are worried
Referencing a discussion thread about this on X, security firm Malwarebytes published a blog post last Thursday, claiming that the change rolling out to Gmail users allows Google to view their private emails and attachments to train Gemini and other AI tools. Features cited in the allegations include Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and predictive text.
I contacted Google for comment, and a spokesperson sent me the following statement:
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