Lori Greiner Urges Gmail Users to Disable Google AI Scanning

Shark Tank investor Lori Greiner has issued an urgent safety alert to Gmail users regarding a default setting that allows Google to scan every single email. The entrepreneur, known for her investments in Scrub Daddy and Squatty Potty, recently posted a video on Instagram urging people to block Google's artificial intelligence within their accounts.

Greiner claimed that Google does not want users to know their AI is actively reviewing financial documents, tax information, and personal conversations. She stated that while this scanning happens without explicit knowledge, disabling the technology takes only about thirty seconds.

To protect their data, she instructed viewers to click the gear icon in the top right corner of their Gmail dashboard. This action leads to the 'See all settings' menu where users must scroll down to find the 'Smart features and personalization' section.

The instructions require turning off the toggle for 'Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat and Meet.' Users must also ensure that smart features for Google Workplace and other Google Products are switched off before saving the changes.

Greiner emphasized that once these steps are completed, Google can no longer access personal information and the emails are protected from AI scanning. Her advice comes as she continues to build her fortune, estimated between $150 million and $250 million, since becoming a mainstay on the show in 2012.

Google defends its practices by stating that its AI model, Gemini, is designed to scan messages by default to provide features like summarization and smart replies. The company asserts that this data is not used to train the system without permission, though it is analyzed to improve the overall user experience.

When asked for comment, a Google spokesman directed inquiries to a blog post explaining that users should not worry about their private data being used for training. The blog emphasizes that personal messages remain separate from broader technology development and that access is temporary.

According to the tech giant, Gemini only accesses emails for specific, one-time tasks like summarizing long messages and immediately stops once the request is finished. Blake Barnes, vice-president of product for Gmail, stated the system operates securely to ensure data is not kept or reused beyond the immediate task.