An alert of significance has been issued to numerous Gmail users, prompting attention for those who are wary of artificial intelligence scanning their emails. The recent warning was shared online by American television personality and businesswoman Lori Greiner.

Over the weekend, the Shark Tank celebrity conveyed a message on Instagram, urging Gmail account holders to be cautious and share the information with friends and family to ensure their safety.

The advisory stems from Google’s introduction of new AI capabilities aimed at analyzing emails for smart searches, contextual responses, and message summaries. While Google asserts that it does not read messages for personal use, Greiner raised concerns about the extent of AI scanning.

In her Instagram post, Greiner emphasized the importance of not disregarding the warning, stating that Google has been permitting AI to scrutinize all email content, including financial details, tax information, and personal conversations without users’ awareness.

For those feeling apprehensive, there is a straightforward method to disable this feature. Greiner reassured that it only takes 30 seconds to deactivate AI in Gmail.

To turn off the smart features, users can navigate to Settings, select “see all settings,” locate “Smart features,” and disable them in Gmail, Chat, and Meet. Additionally, by unchecking boxes for Workspace and other products under “Manage Workspace Smart Features,” users can further limit data access for AI.

Google maintains that personal data is never accessed by its team or third parties, ensuring the security of user information. The tech giant clarified that AI models like Gemini do not train on personal emails and are designed for isolated tasks, such as summarizing emails, with a strict focus on privacy.

However, for individuals uncomfortable with AI scanning, it is advisable to deselect the smart feature in Gmail settings.