The Briefing RoomJuly 6, 2026via TechCrunch AI
If you use Google, you’re training its AI. Here’s how to opt out.
Why it matters
Google's expanded data collection for AI training represents a major shift in how consumer data fuels model improvement—raising critical questions about consent, privacy governance, and the cost of 'free' services in the AI economy. Leaders need to understand the regulatory and reputational risks as similar practices spread across Big Tech.
Key signals
- Google expanding data collection to include images, files, audio, and video recordings
- Data being used to improve AI models
- Change made to privacy settings with opt-out available
- Described as 'belated PSA'—suggesting limited user awareness of the policy shift
- Affects all Google service users
The hook
Google just quietly changed its privacy policy to use your photos, videos, and files to train AI. Here's what that means for your data.
Consider this a belated PSA: A recent change to Google’s privacy settings is allowing the company to store more of your data, including media such as “images, files, and audio and video recordings,” to improve its AI models.