Google has just rolled out some game-changing updates to its Gemini AI app that could completely transform how you interact with artificial intelligence – and more importantly, how your private conversations stay actually private.
What’s New and Why You Should Care
The tech giant has introduced Temporary Chats, a feature that many users have been desperately waiting for. Think of it as your AI’s version of incognito mode – what happens in temporary chat, stays in temporary chat.
The Privacy Game-Changer: Temporary Chats Explained
 Image: Google
Here’s the deal: sometimes you want to ask your AI assistant something without it becoming part of your permanent record. Maybe you’re exploring sensitive topics, brainstorming ideas you’re not sure about, or just want to have a quick conversation that won’t influence future chats.
With Temporary Chats, your conversations:
- Won’t show up in your chat history
- Won’t be saved in your Gemini Apps Activity
- Won’t be used to train Google’s AI models
- Get automatically deleted after 72 hours
This is huge news for privacy-conscious users who want to use AI without worrying about their data being stored forever.
Gemini Gets Personal (In a Good Way)
On the flip side, Google is also making Gemini smarter by letting it remember your past conversations – but only if you want it to. This new personalization feature called “Use past chats to get more personalized responses” means your AI assistant can finally understand your preferences and give you responses that actually make sense for you.
How “Use Past Chats” Actually Works
When you enable this feature, Gemini becomes like that friend who actually remembers what you talked about last week. It analyzes your conversation history to understand your interests, communication style, and preferences, then uses this knowledge to provide more relevant and tailored responses.
Real-World Examples That’ll Blow Your Mind
The personalization works in surprisingly practical ways:
For Entertainment Lovers: If you’ve chatted about your favorite comic book characters before, Gemini might suggest a superhero-themed birthday party complete with custom decorations when you ask for party ideas.
For Book Enthusiasts: Discussed some BookTok recommendations? Gemini will remember your taste and suggest similar books, even throwing in popular quotes for your social media posts.
For Content Creators: Previously brainstormed about starting a YouTube channel on Japanese culture? Ask for new content ideas, and Gemini might suggest a “My First Time Trying…” series featuring Japanese foods or traditional crafts.
For Fitness Enthusiasts: Mentioned you’re training for a marathon? Future workout suggestions will be tailored to endurance running rather than generic fitness advice.
The Smart Balance: Privacy vs Personalization
What makes this update brilliant is how Google has created two distinct paths for different user needs:
Want Privacy? Use Temporary Chats for sensitive conversations that you don’t want stored or remembered.
Want Personalization? Keep the “Use past chats to get more personalized responses” feature enabled for ongoing conversations where context matters.
Want Both? You can literally switch between modes depending on what you’re discussing!
You’re Still in Control
Here’s the best part – you get to choose everything. The personalization feature is turned on by default, but you can switch it off anytime through your settings. Head to Settings > Personal context > “Your past chats with Gemini” to make your choice.
You can also toggle the “Use past chats to get more personalized responses” setting independently, giving you granular control over how much Gemini remembers about you.
What This Means for Your Data
Google is also being more transparent about how they handle your uploads. The company is renaming “Gemini Apps Activity” to “Keep Activity” and will use a sample of your future uploads to improve their services – but only if you agree.
Important: If you currently have Gemini Apps Activity turned off, your new Keep Activity setting will stay off automatically. You’re not being opted into anything without your knowledge.
Why This Matters
These updates represent a significant shift in how AI companies are thinking about user privacy and personalization. By giving users both temporary chat options and sophisticated personalization features like “Use past chats to get more personalized responses,” Google is acknowledging that different people have different comfort levels with data sharing.
Whether you’re someone who wants maximum privacy for sensitive topics or prefers a deeply personalized AI experience that learns from your interactions, these new features let you customize Gemini to match your exact needs – or even switch between both modes as needed.
The rollout is happening gradually, starting with the 2.5 Pro model in select countries, with expansion to the 2.5 Flash model and more regions coming in the following weeks.
For users who’ve been hesitant to fully embrace AI assistants due to privacy concerns, these updates might just be the push they needed to give Gemini a serious try. And for those who want their AI to truly understand them, the enhanced personalization features promise a much more intuitive and helpful experience.
Also read: 15 Best Free AI Courses for Beginners That Will Transform Your Career in 2025