The ‘Ghost Writer’ feature in Google Docs is amazing — but don’t forget to turn off this one setting

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Stop letting Google’s AI learn your bad habits and do this instead

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I spend a good portion of my day in Google Docs. Between writing articles for Tom’s Guide, drafting chapters for my sci-fi novels and managing the endless administrative chaos of a family of five, that blinking cursor is the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night.

For a long time, I loved the "Ghost Writer" features powered by Gemini inside Docs — specifically Smart Compose. You know the one: you start typing a sentence, and gray text appears ahead of your cursor, guessing what you’re about to say. Hit "Tab," and it finishes the thought for you.

It feels like magic. It saves keystrokes and a ton of time. But recently, I noticed something annoying. The AI wasn’t just predicting English; it was predicting me. And unfortunately, it was predicting a tired, rushed and slightly sloppy version of me.

The problem with "Personalized" AI

Gemini

(Image credit: Future)

We are trained to think that "personalization" in tech is always a good thing. We want Netflix to know what movies we like; we want Spotify to know our music taste.

But writing is different. When you are drafting an email or an article, you want to be the best, clearest version of yourself. You don't want an AI that simply mirrors your existing flaws.

Since the Smart Compose Personalization setting is turned on by default, Google’s AI learned my worst patterns and rather than editing, it's enabling in the following ways:

  • The "Just" Trap: It started auto-completing my "softening" language (e.g., "I’m just checking in...").
  • Passive Voice: It began mimicking my tendency to use passive phrasing when I'm tired.
  • The Echo Chamber: Instead of suggesting the strong, direct phrase "Checking in on this," it would offer my usual, weaker "Just wanted to check in."

The fix: how to turn off the "mirror"

google docs screen

Disabling this feature forces Google Docs to revert to its baseline training — which is based on standard, high-quality, professional English. Once I turned off the personalization, the AI stopped trying to be me and went back to being a neutral, grammatically crisp assistant.

It takes exactly 10 seconds to change:

screenshot of preferences

(Image credit: Future)
  • Open a Google Doc.
  • Go to Tools in the top menu.
  • Select Preferences.
  • Under the General tab, look for Smart Compose Personalization.
  • Uncheck the box.
  • Click OK.

Note: Keep "Smart Compose" checked so you still get suggestions—you only want to uncheck the "Personalization" sub-setting.

Why this makes you a better writer

Person typing on Acer Swift Air 16 on table with coffee and glasses on table

(Image credit: Acer)

Once I unchecked that box, the difference was subtle but immediate. The "Ghost Writer" stopped suggesting my specific quirks. When I typed the beginning of a messy sentence, it didn't offer a messy conclusion anymore; it offered the standard, grammatically correct path.

It essentially turned the feature from an Autocomplete tool into a Correction tool.

If I start typing a sentence and the gray text suggests something different than what I was planning to say, it forces me to pause. I look at the suggestion and often think, "Actually, that is cleaner than what I was about to type."

Bottom line

AI is at its best when it challenges your thinking, not when it blindly agrees with you. If you leave personalization on, you are training the AI to write exactly like you — flaws and all.

Don't let your word processor enable your bad habits. Turn off the personalization, and let the ghost in the machine push you to be a little bit sharper.

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Amanda Caswell
Amanda Caswell
AI Editor

Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media.

Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together.

Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a long-distance runner and mom of three. She lives in New Jersey.

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