Google launches new AI in Australia to connect your Gmail, Photos and YouTubeGoogle has launched its “Personal Intelligence” feature across Australia, allowing Gemini AI to access users’ Gmail, Photos and YouTube data to build better responses.Robert White@white_robb734163 min readMay 13, 2026 - 2:18PMA new Google AI feature is rolling out across Australia on Wednesday that could fundamentally change how millions of people use Gmail, Drive, YouTube and Search — by allowing its Gemini chatbot to connect the dots across much of a user’s entire digital life.The feature, called “Personal Intelligence”, is beginning its Australian rollout this week for eligible Google AI subscribers, with broader access expected to follow for free users.Google has launched its new 'personal intelligence' AI feature across Australia. Picture: GoogleUnlike other AI chatbots that rely only on the question in front of them, Google’s system can (with permission) tap into apps like Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube and Search history to build responses based on a user’s habits, travel plans, purchases and personal preferences.In practical terms, it means Gemini will be able to give better responses because it may already know where you’re travelling, what restaurants you like, what videos you’ve recently watched and even where you parked your car.“Earlier this year, we introduced Personal Intelligence in the U.S. to show how Gemini can make life easier by learning what matters most to you,” the announcement read.“Today, we’re rolling out this personalised experience in Australia. Personal Intelligence securely connects information from apps like Gmail and Google Photos to make Gemini uniquely helpful. “If you turn it on, you control exactly which apps to link, and each one supercharges the experience. Others you may likenewsnewsUser's are given the option not to personalise. Picture: GooglePersonal Intelligence onboarding screen. Picture: GoogleThe feature connects Gmail, Photos, YouTube and Search and Google says it has two core strengths: “reasoning across complex sources and retrieving specific details from, say, an email or photo to answer your question”. “It often combines these, working across text, photos and video to provide uniquely tailored answers.”The rollout marks one of Google’s biggest pushes yet toward what the tech industry has been calling “personal AI”, assistants that don’t just answer questions, but actively understand the context of your life.Google says the system has been designed to reduce the need for users to manually provide information every time they ask a question.In a given example, someone planning a holiday to Cairns could simply ask Gemini: “What are my travel plans for Cairns?”The Gemini star can be found in the top right hand corner of the browser to toogle. Picture: GoogleInstead of performing a standard web search, Gemini could pull hotel and ferry booking confirmations from Gmail, retrieve saved screenshots or maps from Google Photos, and even recommend restaurants based on YouTube travel videos the user recently watched.Another example shared by Google involved a driver standing at a tyre shop who couldn’t remember their vehicle’s tyre size or licence plate number. Gemini was able to retrieve the information from old photos stored in Google Photos and confirmation emails in Gmail.The feature is off by default, meaning users must actively enable it and choose which Google apps they want connected.Google is also attempting to reassure users over privacy concerns, which have quickly become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the technology.The company says Gemini does not directly train on personal Gmail inboxes or private photo libraries.Instead, Google says the AI is trained using “limited information” such as prompts users type into Gemini and the model’s responses, with additional filtering and obfuscation designed to remove sensitive data.Recently Gemini integrated with Chrome. Picture: GoogleGoogle says users can disconnect apps, delete chat history, disable personalisation or use temporary chats at any time.The system also includes what Google calls “guardrails” around sensitive topics like health information, with Gemini designed to avoid proactively making assumptions about medical conditions or deeply personal issues.Google also warned users may experience “over-personalisation”, where Gemini incorrectly links unrelated parts of a person’s life together.Google used the example of someone with hundreds of golf course photos in their library. Gemini might assume the person loves golf when in reality they only attend because their child plays the sport.Relationship changes are another potential weak point with Google acknowledging the AI may struggle with nuance around changing relationships or evolving interests because it relies heavily on historical digital behaviour.More CoverageGoogle changes forever from todayRobert WhiteAussies warned to brace for ‘new Y2K’Harrison ChristianThe feature has already drawn attention because of just how deeply integrated Google’s ecosystem has become.Unlike competitors such as OpenAI or Anthropic, Google already has access to years of data through much used programs like Gmail, Search, Maps, Photos, YouTube and Android devices.Google’s new Personal Intelligence rollout is currently available to eligible Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers using personal Google accounts across web, Android and iPhone devices, with the company confirming broader rollout to free users is underway.Read related topics:GoogleMore related storiesInternetMajor data breach rocks Aussie schools, unisA major cybersecurity breach has compromised the personal data of tens of thousands of Australian students across schools and universities – leaving institutions scrambling.Read moreOnlinePM shares deepfake lingerie imageThe Italian PM has taken the extraordinary measure of sharing a deepfake image of her on a bed wearing lingerie.Read moreOnlineUber hints at huge change to appUber has unveiled a raft of new features and hinted at major future change as the ride-sharing giant attempts to become a dominant “everything app”.Read more