Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking a more personalised turn in India. Google has introduced a new "Personal Intelligence" feature for its AI assistant Gemini, aimed at delivering responses tailored to individual users by connecting multiple apps and accounts.
The feature allows users to link services such as Gmail and Google Photos, enabling Gemini to access a wider pool of personal data. This helps the assistant generate context-aware answers based on a user's own information rather than generic inputs.
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How the feature works
In a blog post, Google said the new capability is built on two key strengths: reasoning across complex sources and retrieving specific details from connected accounts like emails or photos. By combining these, Gemini can process information across text, images and videos to offer more relevant responses.
For instance, users can ask about travel plans and receive summaries compiled from emails, bookings and stored images. The assistant can also use recent YouTube activity to suggest ideas or recommendations. Importantly, Google noted that Gemini will cite its sources, allowing users to verify the information.
Limited rollout for now
At present, the feature is available only to a limited group of users in India, specifically those subscribed to AI Pro and AI Ultra plans, per India Today report. Google has said it plans to extend access to free users in the coming weeks.
Before its India rollout, Personal Intelligence was introduced in the United States in January as a beta feature. It was initially restricted to paid users before being expanded to all users in March. The feature has also been rolled out in Japan.
Challenges and limitations
Google has acknowledged that Gemini may not always interpret personal data accurately and could sometimes connect unrelated information. The company noted that the AI can struggle with context and subtle nuances, especially when user behaviour is not straightforward.
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For example, frequent photos at a golf course might lead Gemini to assume an interest in golf, even if the visits are for other reasons. In such cases, users can correct the assistant through feedback, helping it improve future responses.
