Google's AI assistance tool, Gemini, is designed to help users in various ways.
However, it has recently been discovered that Gemini may go too far in its efforts to help users, as it reads and analyzes documents stored on Google Drive without explicit permission from users.
One user, Kevin Bankston, noticed that his tax information stored on Google Drive was being summarized by Gemini, despite never authorizing the tool to review the document.
When he attempted to disable access, Gemini misdirected him.
Upon finding the correct settings, he discovered that access was already disabled, which means that the service should not have been able to summarize the information. This incident was reported by Sweclockers.
This situation raises privacy issues, as users do not have full control over how their data and files are used.
Although Gemini is intended to help summarize users' own texts, it is problematic that the tool has access to documents without the user's consent.
How to Disable Gemini
It is relatively easy to disable this function in the toolbar for Gemini in Google Drive.
Users can go into the Google Cloud settings and select Data Sharing and Privacy, where they can disable Gemini's access to Drive and Docs.
Gemini in Drive for Workspace users launched in late June, and Google will likely continue to make adjustments to ensure documents and data aren't accessed unnecessarily.
It is important for users to be aware of these features and know how to protect their privacy. Users should always be aware of their settings and ensure they are in control of their own information.
