Google has a new feature that reads user's emails and reminds them when certain bills that are sent to Gmail accounts are due. Private emails are already being scanned for advertising purposes, but the new Google Search mobile app allows users to verbally ask their phone to show them the sum total of any outstanding bills.
Google has a new feature that reads user's Gmail accounts and reminds them when certain bills are due.
Private emails are already scanned for advertising purposes, but the new Google mobile app allows users to verbally ask their phone to show them new and upcoming bills.
This feature is part of the Google Now personal assistant technology, and only works with people who have allowed Google to access their account information.
The bill feature was announced in a Google+ post giving instructions on how to use it, saying, “Tap the mic on the Google app and say, “Show me my bills” or “My bills due this week.”
Some users might not feel comfortable with Google scanning personal financial information, but the window reportedly pops up saying “Only you can see this result” to reassure people that their information isn’t being broadcast on the internet.
Gmail accounts are already reportedly being scanned by Google in anticipation of users' needs, such as flight information, travel packages and hotel reservations from online order confirmations.
