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Google Workspace lets Gemini access your company data by default - how to shut it down

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Why This Matters

This article highlights the importance of understanding data privacy in AI integrations within Google Workspace, emphasizing that by default, Google's Gemini AI has access to company data, which could pose privacy and compliance risks. It underscores the need for organizations to actively manage AI permissions to protect sensitive information and maintain control over their data.

Key Takeaways

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Internal AI access can create compliance and privacy risks.

Workspace admins can turn off intelligence sources.

Google gives Gemini access to Workspace data by default.

I have long accepted one fundamental truth: Google knows everything that I do. I've been using Gmail as my primary life dashboard for over a decade now. Apart from the occasional ad in my Gmail interface, Google really hasn't abused my trust. But still, Gmail sees all. Gmail knows all.

Every email message I have sent or received since before Hamilton opened on Broadway has been processed through Google's voracious data maw.

So, when it comes to the Gemini chatbot, I haven't been too upset that Google's AI seems to know what's in my email or my Google Docs. In fact, that capability helped me out at one point. I actually want Google's AI to do more, but the tech has a limited number of messages it can process. The AI crashed and burned on a more complex research task.

Also: Google is training AI on even more of your data now, unless you opt out - here's how

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