Google Revamps Search History Controls, Using Audio and Images to Train AI Models

Google previously managed activity from Search, Maps, Translate and other services under Web & App Activity. As generative AI becomes integrated into Search, images and voice recordings have also become training material for its models. The change separates controls for frequently used services including Google Lens, Search Live and Google Translate, affecting how account data is stored, de-identified and used to improve AI.

Google began gradually rolling out Search Services History on May 26, 2026, along with a new media-storage control. When enabled, it can save Lens images, recordings from Search Live and voice searches, spoken audio from Translate, and uploaded files to improve services and train generative AI. Users can turn off history and media storage separately, but disassociated data already used for training may still be retained for up to four years.