Google is reportedly preparing to reduce the free cloud storage limit for Gmail users. Till now the company has been providing up to 15GB of free storage for Gmail, Google Photos, Docs and other Google services. But according to new reports, this limit can be reduced to only 5GB for new users in some areas. This change is currently being tested in select countries, but it can be extended to more users in the future.

According to reports, Google has confirmed this testing in a statement given to Android Authority. A change in language has also been seen on the company’s support page.

Where earlier ’15GB storage’ was written, now ‘up to 15GB’ is being written there. This hints that the storage limit may no longer be the same for all users. It is being told that Google is currently testing this new model in African countries.

Is storage decreasing because of AI?
The report also says that due to increasing pressure on AI features and cloud services, companies are making storage a premium feature. In recent months, WhatsApp has also included Google Cloud Storage in its backup system. Due to this, the storage of users has started filling up faster than before. In such a situation, it is believed that the increasing use of AI based services is having an impact on the free storage model.

New users will be more affected
According to the report, users who already have a Gmail account will not feel its impact at present. But users creating new accounts may have to work with limited storage.

If the free storage fills up quickly, users may have to take a Google One subscription for additional space.

Why can Google do this?
Google may believe that many people create multiple Gmail accounts to get additional free storage. In such a situation, the company can take this step to reduce storage costs and increase premium subscription. However, many users say that such a big tech company should have better solutions.

If Google implements the 5GB free storage model widely in the future, it could prove to be a big change for Gmail users. Especially for those people who store huge amounts of data on Google Photos, Drive and Gmail.