Google Chrome autofill can now pull details from your Gmail

Google Chrome’s new improved autofill feature can now auto-complete web forms with information from your Gmail, including order numbers, tracking details and flight bookings. The idea is based on Gemini and uses Personal Intelligence and will be launching in the United States market first. Here is what it reads, what Google collects and how to turn it off.

Chrome’s autofill has mostly worked the kinks out – name, address, saved cards. It can also recommend information from your Gmail Inbox, beginning Wednesday. The company states in the Chrome blog post that the new autofill can now appear “order numbers, tracking information, and flight bookings” as you’re entering a form. According to 9to5Google, an extra entry labeled “Suggested by Gemini” shows up in the autofill menu when Gemini finds a match in your inbox.

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Who gets it

It will be available in the United States as a feature in Desktop, Android and iOS. It is only applicable to users who have installed Gemini in Chrome and enabled “Personal Intelligence” which is the feature that enables Gemini to read connected Google apps like Gmail. Google’s Gemini help page lists the requirements: a personal Google account, an age of 18 or older and Keep Activity switched on. Work, school and supervised accounts are not included.

For now, it will not be seen by the people of Europe. Google says Personal Intelligence is not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the UK, among other places. Google has already denied the EU access to other Gmail features, such as Gemini’s ability to access Gmail on Android Auto and its privacy policy update which enables connected Gmail data to influence ads in the U.S.

What Google collects

It is just mentioned in the blog post that the “sensitive data is encrypted and you remain in control.” Does not specify if Google uses Gmail content for models. Google’s admin help page for improved autofill takes it one step further. It describes what data it can process, including page content, page URL and how you interact with autofill suggestions. The default option for consumers is “Allow feature and improve AI models. That way, “Data can also be read by human reviewers, for the sole purpose of improving Google’s AI models,” the page reads. Web browsers run by companies and schools default to the default option, which is without model training.

Providing an AI helper with access to your email also unlocks new attack vectors. Earlier this year, in August, researchers demonstrated that they were able to break into Gemini in Chrome with one email.

How to turn it off

You can remove just one suggestion, as per 9to5Google. If you want to disable the feature altogether, open the settings of the Chrome browser, navigate to Autofill and passwords and disable the Enhanced autofill feature. If you want to prevent Gemini from reading Gmail, disconnect Gmail in the settings of Gemini.