Overview
- Reporting this week by TechCrunch, Tom's Guide and Times Now shows Google has rolled out a new Search Services History setting that is enabled by default for most accounts.
- The setting explicitly saves media inputs such as Google Lens images, Translate audio and voice searches so they can be used to develop and improve Google’s AI models.
- Google split Search data from its broader Web & App Activity controls, so turning off the older master setting does not automatically stop Search Services from saving media.
- Users can stop future media from being used by turning off the Search Services History toggle or unchecking the 'Save media' box at myactivity.google.com, but the new controls are rolling out in waves and may not appear for all accounts yet.
- Google says deleted items disconnect from a user’s account immediately but anonymized copies can remain in training systems for up to four years and the company uses human reviewers in safety and training work, a shift that mirrors an industry move toward using first‑party user media to train AI.