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Gmail ads will start learning from your email habits
Google is preparing to make the ads in Gmail even more accurately predict your tastes and needs. While Google has been relying on the contents of each individual email to help it target the ads next to it, the coming overhaul will make ads learn from the entirety of your email correspondence.
To become more relevant to you, Gmail ads will start using some of the same signals that are incorporated into Priority Inbox, the feature which lets you separate important messages from bacn. Google explains that if you've had a lot of email conversations about digital cameras, for example, you may want to see a local deal from a camera store. If, however, you've recently marked camera-related messages as spam, you probably don't. A Google spokesperson has told TechCrunch that "offers and coupons for your local area" will soon be served by Gmail as part of the new system, highlighting the company's increasing efforts in the local space.
The ads featuring improved relevance will be slowly rolling out to Gmail users. For starters, you'll see a notification such as the one depicted in the image above, inviting you to Google's dedicated information page about the new system. You'll be able to turn the new feature off through Gmail's Settings, but you will be opted-in by default.
For those concerned with the privacy implications of this, Google says that the interest profile established by Gmail will not be used by any of Google's other advertising products. Also, like the original Gmail ad product, this will be a fully automated system -- no Google employees will secretly read your emails to find out just how much you love those lolcats.
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsjakethatMar 30th 2011 3:48PM
Okay I'm starting to really not like Google. Already stopped using chrome just because it's made by google, I'll propably stop my gmail account. Google as a search provider is pretty vital unfortunately.
TheGMMar 30th 2011 5:31PM
@jakethat
?
It's the same system of ads based on your email. It's now just taking into account whether or not you mark certain emails as spam and therefore aren't interested in them. Nothing really additional information wise. Just sorting ads so they don't waste space advertising stuff you mark as spam.
The basic ad premise is the same as every other ad powered email service.
Google Chrome's doing nothing different than any other web browser.
Bings not a bad alternative for search but you'll deal with same ad policies.
Googles not part of a secret conspiracy, You'll go through the same general ad experience wherever you use online services.
BeeQALMar 30th 2011 8:06PM
@jakethat
Nah, I'm with Jake on this also. I've always been indifferent regarding Google but it's becoming clearer that we are being conditioned, inch by inch, to accept this invasion of privacy, no matter how little we may think it is, as normal and part of everyday life. It shouldn't be!
Google and our privacy has always been a sticky issue for a reason and it's not conspiracy theories or whatever. Any company that behaves in this way, and nowadays there seems to be many, is bad.
I will also try to depend less on any of Google's services. I barely use Gmail as much as I think it's still the best and I divide my search engine usage between Bing and their's. Unfortunately, like I mentioned earlier, many other companies are not much better when it comes to our privacy such as Microsoft through Bing and Hotmail... :( The times we're living in...
NyaRMar 30th 2011 7:29PM
It will learn that I use run adblock and only access the emails through imap and run the interface to take advantage of phone calling. I hope with this information they make a stand alone google phone app.
AnonymousMar 31st 2011 10:00AM
"no Google employees will secretly read your emails" Really? Like how an employee *didn't* do exactly that last year?
I'm not a fan of Cnet, but here's a good enough article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-20016451-265.html
@NyaR, it already knows that.
@TheGM Chrome is the only browser that contacts the browser maker's servers EVERY time the application is started, not just once throught the day like other browsers. Not saying I agree with either, but Chrome is worse. No one can opt out of this. Also Chrome collects other data that you can opt out, but it is not anonymous like they say it is.
motangApr 1st 2011 9:40AM
Creepy