
Google Gemini just closed the gap by adding 'ChatGPT' features — here's how they work
Together, these changes are designed to create a more relevant, proactive experience without sacrificing user choice over data and privacy.
A new Personal context setting allows Gemini to learn from your previous conversations to deliver more relevant and natural responses. With this feature enabled, the AI can use details from earlier chats, such as your hobbies, past projects, or favorite topics, to shape future suggestions without requiring you to restate them.
This personalization is turned on by default and is rolling out first to the 2.5 Pro model for consumer accounts in select countries, with expansion to the 2.5 Flash model and additional regions in the coming weeks.
Users can disable it at any time in the app's settings.
For those who want to interact with Gemini without affecting future recommendations, Temporary Chat offers a way to start single-use conversations.
These chats won't appear in recent history or Gemini Apps Activity, and won't be used to personalize the experience or train Google's AI models. They're stored for up to 72 hours to allow for responses and optional feedback.
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The feature starts rolling out today and will reach all users in the coming weeks.
Google is also renaming its 'Gemini Apps Activity' setting to Keep Activity. When enabled, a sample of future uploads, such as files or photos, can be used to improve Google services and train AI models.
Users who prefer not to participate can turn the setting off or use Temporary Chats.
Additionally, a new control introduced earlier this month lets people decide whether audio, video, and screen shares from the mic button or Gemini Live can be used to improve Google services. This is off by default but can be switched on at any time.
These updates bring Gemini closer to Google's goal of making it a more personal, proactive and powerful assistant by allowing the AI to adapt more naturally to each user's preferences and communication style.
At the same time, the introduction of Temporary Chat and the revamped data settings give users greater transparency and control over what information is stored and how it's used. The new tools are designed to support both approaches, striking a balance between personalization and user choice.
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USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
Should you delete your ChatGPT history? Why you might not have a choice.
Page Harrington asked ChatGPT to make a morning checklist for her five-year-old child with ADHD who can't read. The generative AI shot out a color-coded routine. Harrington also uses ChatGPT to make amusing oil paintings of her family, source trending songs for TikToks and even create interior designs for her home. The Massachusetts 33-year-old is among a growing number of ChatGPT power users. Some estimates find ChaptGPT now has between 800 million and 1 billion active daily users. Harrington is such a prolific user that the chatbot told her she seeks answers or ideas about every 11 minutes. "I'm using it all day everyday," she told USA TODAY. "I am entrenched." ChatGPT is so integral to her daily life that her chat history has become a detailed map of her inner self, Harrington said. "It is hysterical to look at because it really shows what my brain looks like," she said. "I use ChatGPT to take an idea I have and make it better. It reveals the constant thought-spiraling I have on a daily basis." While a detailed ChatGPT history can be hugely beneficial − the more users reveal, the more relevant the outputs are − it also raises privacy implications. In fact, ChatGPT histories are so intensely personal some people say they'd rather let a stranger read their texts than see their chatbot banter. That prospect is now a possibility. A May court order has − at least temporarily − prevented ChatGPT's parent company OpenAI from honoring user requests to delete the history of personal accounts. The move has created confusion over what exactly is ChatGPT history. Is it public? Could it be used against you? "We are forgetting how much we are sharing with it," said Jessica Camilleri-Shelton, an early ChatGPT adopter and UK-based AI content creator. "A lot of people are in a daze about what this tool represents and the way they're interacting with it. The things they're sharing and the history that's being built on them is a deep and revealing picture of who they are." Why your ChatGPTs aren't being deleted right now New York federal Judge Ona Wang ruled in May that OpenAI must hold on to some chats in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by The New York Times in 2023 alleges OpenAI used its articles to train its generative AI models. The newspaper and other plaintiffs say the ChatGPT user data could contain potential evidence to support that claim. The order requires OpenAI to keep ChatGPT histories even if a user requests the chats be deleted or if state privacy laws require OpenAI to delete the data. The order does not apply to business accounts. OpenAI appealed the preservation order, but was unsuccessful. Last month, Wang upheld the order when she rejected a user's petition that chats should not be maintained for privacy reasons. "Every single chat from everybody in America is now frozen under protective order and cannot be deleted," said Jay Edelson, a Chicago-based plaintiff's attorney who sues AI companies on behalf of users. "Even if people think they have temporary chats, or are deleting chats, by virtue of a court order, that's not happening." It's common for a judge to preserve records in litigation, said Ryan Calo, a University of Washington law professor. According to Calo, the court order doesn't technically violate OpenAI's terms of service, which say the company must retain data to comply with legal orders. But it raises "a very important legal question about what the people that make AI owe to the people who own the copyright behind the training data." The company said it will "resume our standard data retention practices" once the court permits. Next generation AI: OpenAI unveils Chat GPT-5 model with 'Ph.D level intelligence' In the meantime, user data applicable to the order will be "stored separately in a secure system" and is only accessible to OpenAI's legal and security team, according to OpenAI. Calo says ChatGPT users should be vigilant about the sensitive information they share. Such a robust data stockpile could still be vulnerable to cyber attacks and requests from law enforcement. "So, if you go talk to ChatGPT about your most sensitive stuff and then there's like a lawsuit or whatever, like we could be required to produce that," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged on the "This Past Weekend" podcast last month. Bottom line? Calo's recommendation is to stay calm and carry on using ChatGPT, just more cautiously. ChatGPT is 'one of us' From social media to search histories, people have navigated myriad privacy threats before. But ChatGPT makes us feel uniquely vulnerable because it is increasingly an extension of ourselves, according to Kate Devlin, professor of artificial intelligence and society at King's College London. "We tend to treat these things as if they are one of us," Devlin said. It's not you, it's me. ChatGPT doesn't want to be your therapist or friend That's the case for Rue Halloway, a 20-year-old social media creator from New York City, who uses generative AI for guidance on interpersonal situations and her ADHD. When she found therapy was too expensive, Halloway turned to ChatGPT. "I'm very neutral," Halloway said about the vulnerability of her ChatGPT history. While she wouldn't like it if her history ever became public, she wouldn't get too upset over it. After all, she already forks over a lot of personal data to other tech platforms, she says. Some people are willing to trade their data for access to "an expert at your fingertips,"Camilleri-Shelton said. Not everyone is so sure. With no federal law protecting online information and just a patchwork of state privacy laws, many Americans are confused and concerned about how their online information is used, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center. The discomforting reality is that ChatGPT consumes vast amounts of information all the time, privacy experts say. Even if you request that it delete your information, it has likely already digested and incorporated it, according to Calli Schroeder, lead of the AI and Human Rights Project at Electronic Privacy Information Center. "Because of the way these systems are built, you can't delete individual pieces of information once its become part of a training data set," she said. For this reason, some ChatGPT power users like Harrington have decided to avoid highly personal or emotional queries, preferring less revealing conversations, such as how to make a skin-care routine out of the products on her bathroom counter. "ChatGPT doesn't know if your boyfriend hates you," Harrington said. "But ChatGPT does know if you should use CeraVe Oil Cleanser before Cetaphil Soap ... I'm going with things that are more fact rather than opinion." How to protect your ChatGPT history Worried about disclosing too much to ChatGPT? Here are some tips:


Android Authority
29 minutes ago
- Android Authority
I love Google's new Calling Cards feature. Here's how to use it on your Android phone
Joe Maring / Android Authority In late July, Android Authority reported that Google was working on a new 'Calling Cards' feature for its Contacts app. Yesterday, it began rolling out widely for everyone to use. When you receive a call on your Android phone, you see a standard incoming call screen with that person's name, number, and profile picture. Calling Cards let you spruce this up a bit, allowing you to select a full-screen picture and stylized text to display for each of your contacts. It's basically Google's version of the iPhone's Contact Posters feature, so while not the most original feature, it's a fun one nonetheless. With Calling Cards now available for everyone, here's a quick guide showing you where to find the feature and how to use it. Ready? Let's get to it. Do you like Google's Calling Cards? 0 votes Yes! I think they look great. NaN % They're fine. NaN % I don't like them. NaN % Other (let us know in the comments). NaN % What you need to access Google's Calling Cards Joe Maring / Android Authority Before showing you how to use Calling Cards, a couple of quick housekeeping notes. Calling Cards first began rolling out on August 15, and in typical Google fashion, it may take a little while before the feature is live on your phone. Calling Cards are tied to the Google Contacts and Google Phone apps. Calling Cards are live on my Google Pixel 9a with version 4.61.28.792249534 of the Contacts app, as well as version 188.0.793710089 of the Phone app. A couple of members on the Android Authority team reported needing to be in the Google Phone beta program before Calling Cards appeared. If you have the latest versions of both apps and still aren't seeing Calling Cards, you can join the Google Phone beta here to see if that prompts them to show up. It's worth noting that Calling Cards should soon be available in the non-beta version of the Google Phone app. You can stay on the stable version and wait for Calling Cards to show up there, or join the beta to use Calling Cards now. Either way, here's how to use Calling Cards once they're on your phone. How to use and edit Calling Cards Joe Maring / Android Authority You can create Calling Cards in the Phone and Contacts app, though I've found it easier to access them in the latter. Just how easy? Open the Google Contacts app on your phone. Select a contact. Tap Try adding a calling card. Add a photo for your calling card. You can use the camera app, select a picture from your on-device gallery, or pick something from Google Photos. Customize your calling card! You can use one finger to move your photo around and use two fingers to pinch and zoom to crop it. You can also choose the font style and color of the text. Tap your calling card to preview it, then tap Done in the upper-right when you're finished. Tap Skip to only use the picture for your contact's calling card, or tap Confirm and crop to use that same photo for your contact's profile picture. Finally, tap Save in the upper-right corner to save your work. And that's all there is to it! If the 'Try adding a calling card' prompt doesn't appear on a contact's page, you can also tap the pencil icon at the top of your screen to create a Calling Card that way. Now, when you receive a call from that contact, you'll see their personalized Calling Card instead of the usual (and boring) incoming call screen. There's not much else to explain for this one. Calling Cards may not be the most revolutionary feature we've ever seen from Google, but I think it's a fun and charming one. It's a cute way to spruce up your phone when you get a call from a friend or family member, and it's the little touches like this that I sometimes enjoy the most. Follow

Business Insider
30 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Successful men say they can't start their mornings without exercise. Their essentials include lots of Nike gear and ChatGPT.
No matter the industries they work in, successful men like to start their days with workouts. While exercising, many of them opt for Nike clothes and accessories, as they told Business Insider. Some also use technology like ChatGPT and Whoop wristbands to enhance their regimens. Mark Wahlberg works out in gym sneakers that he designed. Lenny Kravitz opts for leather pants while lifting. The rest of us stick with Nike shoes and Lululemon shorts. That includes successful men across tech, finance, and other industries, who told Business Insider that they can't start their days without exercise. Here's a look at their gym essentials, from popular clothes to expensive tech. Antonio White, 38, uses technology to his advantage while exercising. White is the founder of 480 Advisors, an executive brand development agency. He previously worked as a deputy assistant secretary of community engagement at the US Treasury Department. Most days, he wakes up around 5 a.m. and makes time for a morning workout. With the help of ChatGPT, he combines strength training, walking, and yoga. "People may laugh at it, but it gives me an opportunity to track my progress," White told Business Insider. "Instead of using a notebook like most people who go to the gym, I log it right into ChatGPT. I look at it as a virtual personal trainer." He pays $20 a month for a subscription to the app and said he mainly uses it at the gym. He also uses YouTube for free workout videos. "I finish my workouts with a core exercise," he said. "I usually find an influencer on YouTube who has a 10-minute video, and I'll put it on my phone and prop it up on a stand in the corner of the gym." While working out, he wears a mix of Converse and Nike pieces. White said he typically pairs an old concert T-shirt with $55 mesh Nike shorts to exercise. "It's so basic, but I love Nike. It's my absolute favorite," he said. "The message of victory really appeals to me." He also wears various Nike sneakers for some exercises, but swaps them out during strength training. He prefers Converse's $110 Run Star Hike platform sneakers. "The shoes have made a big difference in my strength development," he said. White uses Nike's $70 Elite Pro Basketball backpack to carry his sneaker options and other gear. Bobby Mollins, 35, is loyal to Lululemon. Mollins, a former Business Insider rising star in equity research, is the director of internet research at Gordon Haskett. He exercises six days a week with routines that include stretching, cycling, strength training, and running. No matter the exercise, though, he sports $78 Lululemon Metal Vent Tech T-shirts. He said they're more comfortable than any he's tried from competitors like Adidas and Ten Thousand. For shorts, he alternates between two Lululemon options: the $78 lined Pace Breaker shorts for the gym and cycling, and the $68 unlined Pace Breaker shorts for running. "I like the fit and various length options," Mollins said of the bottoms. "The lined shorts have a phone pocket, which keeps my phone from bouncing around, and it's also useful when walking my dog at night." His exercise accessories include sunglasses, sneakers, and a running vest. Mollins recently relocated to Miami, which led to some changes in his exercise gear. Namely, he added the $145 Salomon vest. "I never had to use a hydration vest while living in New York City or Boston," he said. "But with the heat and humidity in Miami, the vest makes marathon training a little bit easier — especially on 20-mile days." His $210 SR-1x glasses from Roka have become another staple. He said the shades are ideal for running and cycling, as they don't need much adjusting while on the move. He also appreciates the brand's customization options on its website. Mollins uses a Peloton bike and a Garmin watch to guide and track his exercise. Mollins often cycles on his $4,499 SuperSix EVO 3 bike. However, he prefers not to use it when it's icy in New York or on sandy roads in Miami. That's where his $1,445 Peloton bike comes in. The device allows him to cycle indoors, while the companion app provides guided workouts. "I use it all the time," he said of the latter, noting that he has a 129-week streak. "I frequently take stretching and yoga classes, and have done a lot of the meditations offered." Additionally, Mollins likes to wear Garmin's $599 Forerunner 965 watch during all exercises. He uses it to track his workouts, heart rate, sleep, and more. Samuel Garcia, 31, said he hasn't looked back after trying Hoka sneakers. Samuel Garcia was named a Business Insider rising star of venture capital last year for his work as a partner at Amplo. The first thing he prioritizes each morning is aerobic exercise, like biking, swimming, using an elliptical, or running. If doing the latter, he always wears a $30 Nike Dri-Fit top. "I'm typically running five or six miles, and normal cotton shirts feel like they sometimes rub my skin raw," he said. "My Nike shirts have been pretty gentle on the skin, so I've appreciated that." Another exercise essential he swears by is the $155 Clifton 10 Hoka sneaker. A doctor recommended the shoes to Garcia after he broke a toe, and he's been "extremely loyal" to the brand ever since. "It was the first time I'd had a doctor recommend me any type of shoe, and I haven't had any issues since," he said. "I tried walking in other shoes and it was decently painful. But when I put the Hokas on, I felt little to no pain. So now I've been wearing them for years, kind of religiously." Brannon Jones, 31, pairs his Lululemon athletic clothes with wearable tech. Brannon Jones, another Business Insider rising star of venture capital, works at AlleyCorp. He usually wakes up around 5:15 a.m. and hits the gym by 6:30 a.m. While there, he opts for high-intensity training that he's modified from his college football days — or he takes a CrossFit class. "Even though I lift a lot, I like to wear a lot of running gear. I find that it's very light and I feel super mobile," he said, adding that Lululemon makes his favorite shorts and tank tops. He also brings his Hydro Flask water bottle (with a $13 Wide Mouth Flex Chug Cap) to each workout, and wears his Whoop wristband and Apple Watch. "The Apple Watch is so functional for workouts," he said. "You can time yourself, see your heart rate, all of that. The Whoop goes a little bit deeper in terms of helping me understand my longer-term strain and recovery." Chase Dwyer, 28, prefers to keep his gym outfits simple. Chase Dwyer founded Carbon Ridge, a company that develops carbon capture technology for the maritime shipping industry. Speaking with Business Insider, he said fitness is a core part of his morning routine. Whether cycling, running, or visiting the gym, he often wears a $58 Tuvalu tee from Vuori with $75 Nike Dri-Fit shorts. "It's simple," he said of his gym wardrobe. "Generally, when it comes to what I wear these days, I've reverted to things that take as little time as possible to think about, but still match my style and look good." He also said he's "run through a number" of $220 4T2 weekdays sneakers, and carries any extra supplies — like his black Owala water bottle — in his $219 Db Journey backpack. Modi Oyewole, 38, swears by Nike. Modi Oyewole has spent his career working for athletic brands and record labels. Now, though, he's the founder of the golf community Swang. He works out multiple times each week, spending three days with a trainer and using ClassPass options in between. He told Business Insider that he wears a lot of Lululemon while exercising, but is an even bigger fan of Nike. He uses an oversize tote from the brand to carry his protein shake, water, and Crocs, and he wears Nike Metcons, which range between $155 and $175 per pair.