Gemini’s latest upgrade, Personal Intelligence, marks a significant leap in its ability to integrate with users’ personal data—offering a more proactive, context-aware experience. Unlike earlier versions that required explicit prompts to access Gmail, Calendar, Photos, or search history, the new feature lets Gemini autonomously draw from these sources when it deems relevant. Available only in beta to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, it’s opt-in, with users choosing which apps to grant access to. This shift from reactive to anticipatory assistance feels like a major step forward. The change is tangible. Previously, asking Gemini to check an email or schedule an event meant manually directing it to the right source. Now, if a conversation hints at needing past information—like a concert ticket or a calendar reminder—Gemini acts without prompting. It suggested book recommendations based on my interests, delivered a detailed lawn renovation plan with native plant options, added reminders to my calendar, and even generated a shopping list in Google Keep. Tasks that once failed or required constant correction now work reliably, signaling real progress. Still, the system stumbles on specifics. When I asked for new bike routes with a coffee stop, the high-level ideas were solid, but the detailed directions were inconsistent. Clicking a link to a Google Maps route led to a completely different path. Worse, the AI recommended a risky route involving unpaved trails and a dangerous left turn across busy traffic—clearly not safe. Similarly, when suggesting neighborhoods for a photo outing, it correctly excluded Ballard (where I once lived) but misidentified locations: a restaurant was wrongly placed in Georgetown, a café claimed to be in a non-existent building, and a shop was recommended despite being clearly closed. Fact-checking these errors consumed more time than the initial request. The issue isn’t just inaccuracy—it’s in trust. Hearing Gemini reference my husband and child by name, even if derived from accessible data, raises privacy concerns. It’s one thing to know your info is out there; it’s another to have it spoken aloud in a conversation. Ultimately, Personal Intelligence expands Gemini’s usefulness, but only marginally. It may help me start projects I’ve delayed—like yard work—but I’ll still rely on human judgment to verify details. The tool is promising, but not yet trustworthy enough to replace careful oversight. For now, it’s a helpful assistant, not a replacement. And I’ll be watching every step it recommends—because one wrong turn could lead to a dead end, or worse, a vacant storefront.