Google will store your photos and voice searches to train AI: what will change and how to turn it off

Google users will soon face an important change to privacy settings. The company is rolling out a new feature called Search Services History, which will allow it to store images, audio recordings, video and other files used in search, as well as use this data to improve services and train artificial intelligence.

This is not just about familiar text queries. The new system will include:

photos uploaded through Google Lens;

recordings from Search Live;

voice search queries;

phrases spoken in Google Translate;

video and files used in Google search services.

What exactly will be stored

Until now, such data was partly controlled through the Web & App Activity section. Now Google is separating it into a distinct category — Search Services History. This means that images and voice recordings will be managed through their own settings and can be stored separately from the regular search history.

The company says the collected information will be used to:

improve search quality;

develop Google services;

train and refine artificial intelligence models;

personalize recommendations and advertising when the relevant settings are enabled.

Why this caused concern

Digital security experts note that modern search systems increasingly work with users' personal photos, voice and video. Unlike ordinary text search, such data may contain significantly more personal information.

Particular attention has been drawn to the fact that a separate Save Media toggle is provided for storing media files. If a user does not check the settings after the update, images and audio recordings may continue to be saved in the Google account.

How to disable photo and audio storage

Google has provided the option to opt out of storing such data.

To do this, you need to:

1. Open your Google account settings.

2. Go to the Data & Privacy section.

3. Find the Search Services History block.

4. Turn off the main feature or disable the Save Media option separately.

According to Google, if a user has already disabled saving such activity through the Web & App Activity settings, the new feature will remain off automatically after rollout (but it is better to check).

Another step in the AI era

The update reflects Google's broader push to integrate artificial intelligence into all of the company's key products. Today, search already actively uses AI to analyze text, images and voice, while additional data helps train new models and improve the accuracy of their responses.

However, alongside the growth of AI, questions about privacy are also multiplying. That is why experts recommend that users regularly review their account settings and control what data they are willing to share with technology companies for processing and algorithm training.