How do I turn off Google's AI training for my Search data?

Visit Google's My Activity page, select the Search Services History tab, and uncheck the box next to 'Save media.' You can also turn off the entire Search Services History setting and delete your activity on that page.

What happens to my data after I delete it if it was already used for training?

If your saved media has already been used to train Google's AI models, it will be disconnected from your Google Account and kept for up to 4 years, even if you delete the original activity.

What types of data does Google save under this new feature?

Google saves images, files, audio and video recordings from your interactions with Search services, including Google Lens images, recordings from Search Live or Translate speaking practice, content you upload, and voice searches.

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Google is automatically saving your Search images and audio for AI training, but you can opt out through your account settings.

WIRED AI1d ago4 min read

Key takeaway

Google is now automatically saving images, audio, and video from your Search activity to train its AI models, with the setting enabled by default. The data can be retained for up to 4 years even after deletion, so users are advised to opt out immediately through their account settings if they do not want this data used for AI training.

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3 Key Points

What happened
Google is rolling out a new setting called Search Services History over the next few months that automatically saves images, audio, video, and files you upload or use in Search, Google Lens, Search Live, and Google Translate for AI model training. The feature is turned on by default unless you previously disabled related privacy toggles.
Why it matters
Your saved media can be used to train Google's AI models and retained for up to 4 years even after you delete the original activity. This means opting out now is critical — once your data is used for training, you cannot retrieve it. Google is using its massive user base across multiple services to gather diverse types of data to potentially innovate faster than competitors.
What to watch
You can disable this feature by visiting Google's My Activity page, selecting the Search Services History tab, and unchecking the box next to 'Save media' — but the burden is on users to opt out rather than opt in. This rollout is happening over the next few months globally.

FAQ

How do I turn off Google's AI training for my Search data?: Visit Google's My Activity page, select the Search Services History tab, and uncheck the box next to 'Save media.' You can also turn off the entire Search Services History setting and delete your activity on that page.
What happens to my data after I delete it if it was already used for training?: If your saved media has already been used to train Google's AI models, it will be disconnected from your Google Account and kept for up to 4 years, even if you delete the original activity.
What types of data does Google save under this new feature?: Google saves images, files, audio and video recordings from your interactions with Search services, including Google Lens images, recordings from Search Live or Translate speaking practice, content you upload, and voice searches.

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