How to Stop Google from Using Your Search Data to Train Its AI

Many Google users may not realize that a recent update to the company's privacy settings allows additional user data—including media such as images, files, audio, and video recordings—to be stored and used to improve Google's artificial intelligence models. Unless users adjust their privacy preferences, media uploaded through certain Google Search services may now contribute to AI training.

The change followed a relatively low-profile update to Google’s Search services’ privacy controls, announced via a customer email in June. As part of the update, Google introduced expanded AI training capabilities and new options that give users greater control over their saved history and personalized recommendations.

Google can now use more of your media for AI development

The update introduced two new privacy controls: Search Services History and Personalized Recommendations. These settings allow users to decide how their activity is used to personalize Google’s services and determine how long search and app activity is retained.

The changes extend well beyond Google Search itself. They also apply to several Google services, including Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, and News.

For example, when users perform a visual search with Google Lens by taking or uploading a photograph, that image may be stored and potentially used in Google’s AI training process.

Likewise, people using the newer Search Live feature in the Google app to conduct voice searches may have those recordings saved. Audio created while using Google Translate’s speech practice tools or other Google Voice Search features may also be retained under the updated settings.

The changes reflect a wider trend across the technology industry, where companies are increasingly relying on user-generated content to improve artificial intelligence systems. Rather than depending solely on publicly available information gathered from the internet, technology companies are making greater use of content users create or upload while interacting with their services. Meta has adopted a similar approach, using user images, media content, and data captured by its AI-powered smart glasses to develop its own AI systems.

Google explicitly acknowledged this use in its email announcing the update, stating: “Like your Search Services History, your saved media is also used to develop and improve Google services and technologies, including AI models and safety measures.”

The company’s support documentation reinforces that explanation, noting that Google “uses your history to provide, develop, and improve its services (such as training generative AI models) and to protect Google, its users, and the public with the help of human reviewers.”

Although some stored content is retained only temporarily to support product functionality, Google’s own documentation indicates that saved media may also be kept specifically for AI model development.

How to adjust your privacy settings

Users who prefer not to have their media retained for these purposes can update their privacy preferences. Within the Search Services History settings page, users can turn off the Save Media setting independently of the broader Search Services History option, or switch off both entirely.

Google also allows users to choose how long retained information is stored before being automatically deleted, with options including 3s, 18s, or 36x months.

From there, users can access additional privacy controls covering services such as Web & App Activity, Timeline, YouTube History, and other Google account settings.

Beyond media uploads, Google also continues to use search history, location information, and data collected from websites users visit to personalize search results, recommendations, and advertisements across its ecosystem. Beforeo this update, users managed their historical search information primarily through the Web & App Activity settings. Google has now separated those controls into two different categories: the existing Web & App Activity settings and the new Search Services History controls, which are enabled by default.

As a result, adjusting only the Web & App Activity retention settings is no longer enough to fully control how information generated through Google Search services is stored. Users who wish to reduce data collection now need to review the separate Search Services History setting as well, since Google Search activity is managed independently under the updated privacy framework.