NEW YORK, May 26: Google’s two billion Gmail users are facing a critical choice as the tech giant rolls out a new upgrade. The update gives Gemini, Google’s AI system, unrestricted access to past emails and stored files — but only if you allow it. The key question for users is whether to grant Gemini access, while Google itself faces a significant decision in how to balance innovation and privacy.

Last week, Google confirmed that Gmail’s latest update would feature personalized smart replies that reflect your typical tone and context. “Draft replies will sound authentically like you, as the responses are created from past emails and Drive files,” the company stated. However, concerns about the privacy and security implications of these changes remain, as the AI system learns from personal data without full transparency. Additionally, this upgrade presents a conflict with Gmail’s recent encryption improvements, raising further doubts about the trade-offs between AI advancements and privacy safeguards.

What users really need is a feature similar to Apple’s Hide My Email, which allows users to shield their personal email addresses. Hide My Email is a service that enables users to keep their primary email address private when signing up for new accounts, making online purchases, or even sending emails to unfamiliar contacts. For iPhone users, it’s been described as “the best Apple product you aren’t using,” and it helps reduce the burden of spam — a problem that AI filtering still struggles to fully address.

But for Android and Gmail users, the lack of a similar feature is becoming more apparent. According to How-To-Geek, data breaches involving online accounts are becoming more frequent, with users receiving notifications about their compromised data. With this in mind, a service like Hide My Email becomes increasingly important.

Fortunately, there’s hope for Android users. Last November, Google introduced Shielded Email, a feature designed to function similarly to Apple’s service. Shielded Email will be integrated into Android’s Autofill system, allowing users to shield their personal email addresses in apps or on websites. A recent teardown of Google’s Play Services APK revealed that Shielded Email will appear as an option when users fill in their email address on certain platforms. For example, when signing up for Amazon, users will be prompted with both their usual email address and a “Use Shielded Email” option. While the feature is not yet live, it’s in advanced stages of development.

The need for such email protection has never been more urgent. Following a major data breach uncovered by Jeremy Fowler of vpnMentor, which exposed 184 million login credentials, the necessity of services like Shielded Email and Hide My Email is more pressing than ever. Fowler reported finding thousands of files containing emails, passwords, usernames, and sensitive account information from banks, healthcare platforms, and government portals. The breach highlighted just how vulnerable personal data can be, and how email addresses are often the key identifier for many accounts.

By masking email addresses, users can make it significantly harder for attackers to access their accounts through phishing or other socially-engineered attacks. A shielded email address allows you to deactivate a compromised email without exposing your primary one, adding an extra layer of security. When combined with strong, unique passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), or even passkeys, this strategy effectively locks down your online life.

One of the most critical weaknesses in online security today is the use of email addresses as the primary identifier across multiple accounts. Masking email addresses helps protect your identity, making it harder for attackers to track your activities across platforms. But this only works if users take full advantage of the feature.

As Google continues to develop its Shielded Email system, users must be proactive. While the feature is not yet available, once it is, users should start using shielded email addresses for all new accounts. The release of this feature will be crucial in helping protect users from the growing threat of data breaches and online identity theft.

The launch of Gmail’s AI-powered features presents a significant crossroads for Google, with privacy and user consent hanging in the balance. As the tech giant navigates these complexities, users will need to carefully consider how much personal information they are willing to share and how they can protect their identities in an increasingly interconnected world.