Google is now using your searches, voice commands, and photos to train its artificial intelligence models — and it’s happening automatically unless you turn it off.
The company rolled out a new setting called “Search Services History” that collects everything you upload to Google: voice searches, photos you run through Google Lens, translation data, and more. If you don’t act now, your data feeds Google’s AI systems.
What’s happening with your data?
Google isn’t just storing this information — it’s using it to improve its AI. The catch: this feature is turned ON by default for most users.
If you already disabled Google’s “Web & App Activity” setting, you’re protected. But if you haven’t, Google is quietly collecting your uploads right now.
Here’s the troubling part: even if you delete your history today, an anonymized copy can stay in Google’s AI training systems for up to four years. That means your data could be feeding Google’s AI long after you think it’s gone.
How to opt out in 3 steps
Step 1: Go to myactivity.google.com and sign into your Google account.
Step 2: Look for “Search Services History” tab. Google is rolling this out in waves, so you might not see it yet. If you don’t see it, click “Web & App Activity” instead and scroll down.
Step 3: Find and uncheck the “Save media” box. This is the critical step. Unchecking it stops Google from collecting your future images, voice, and video uploads for AI training.
If you’re using the older interface, look for “Include voice and audio activity” and uncheck that instead.
Do this today. The longer you wait, the more of your uploads get swept into Google’s dataset.
Why this matters for Ghanaians
Your data is valuable. Google uses it to improve its products, which means your personal information — your voice, your searches, your photos — is helping train systems that Google profits from.
If you use Google Search, Gmail, or Google Lens regularly, all of that is now feeding AI by default.
Opting out puts you back in control.
What to do right now
Visit myactivity.google.com, sign in, and uncheck “Save media” or the voice/audio box. It takes 90 seconds. Do it today — don’t wait.
If you want to go further, turn off “Web & App Activity” entirely. That stops Google from storing almost everything you do across its services.
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