Before Using Gemini, Check What It Is Saving

Using an AI assistant creates data just like using many other online services. If you use Google's Gemini, there is a setting worth understanding: Keep Activity.

For personal accounts, Google says that when Keep Activity is enabled, Gemini activity is stored in your Google Account. Depending on what you use, this can include prompts and chats as well as files, images, screens and other information you deliberately share with Gemini.

You can review that information through Gemini Apps Activity.

You can change the retention period

Google currently provides controls for deleting activity and changing its automatic-deletion period. Its documentation says the default auto-delete period is 18 months, with options including 3 or 36 months or no automatic deletion.

You can also turn Keep Activity off.

There is an important qualification: Google says conversations may still be retained with your account for up to 72 hours when Keep Activity is off so the service can operate and process feedback.

Work and school accounts can operate differently because administrators may control some settings.

Privacy settings do not make bad sharing harmless

Changing retention settings is useful, but it is not a reason to paste passwords, private authentication codes, confidential records, or other information into an AI service unnecessarily.

The safest piece of sensitive information is often the one you never uploaded.

Bottom line: If you use Gemini regularly, spend a few minutes looking at Gemini Apps Activity so you understand what your account is retaining rather than assuming.

Sources and Further Reading

Google Gemini Apps Help — Manage & delete your activity in Gemini Apps: https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13278892

Google Gemini Apps Privacy Hub: https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961