Gemini AI caught scanning Google Drive hosted PDF files without permission

Google's Gemini AI has been reported scanning PDF files hosted on Google Drive without user permission, prompting concerns about privacy and control over sensitive information. Kevin Bankston, a Senior Advisor on AI Governance, raised the issue on Twitter after discovering Gemini summarizing his private documents without consent. Despite efforts to disable the feature, users like Bankston found it challenging to locate the necessary settings. The problem appears to be linked to Google Drive, potentially affecting Google Docs as well. The issue may have stemmed from settings related to Google Workspace Labs, overriding intended AI configurations. While Google claims the AI's training data doesn't include private user content, the lack of transparency and control raises significant privacy implications. Bankston's experience highlights the importance of user consent and control over personal data, especially when interacting with AI technologies. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing AI advancements with privacy protection and user empowerment.