Gmail storage now costs your phone number

Is Google’s long-standing 15GB free tier becoming a thing of the past? In today’s episode, we investigate the controversial pilot program launched in May 2026, where new Google accounts are being limited to just 5GB of storage. We explore the "catch": Google is now using 10GB of your space as an incentive—or "bribery"—to collect user phone numbers for identity verification.We break down the real-world impact: while 5GB is plenty for 50,000 text emails, it lasts only 15 minutes for 4K video or about 1,250 standard photos. We also analyze the strategic shift in Google’s documentation—from "15GB free" to "up to 15GB"—and how this move brings the search giant in line with Apple’s iCloud limitations. Join us as we discuss whether this is a necessary anti-spam measure or a calculated move to push more of Google's 2 billion users toward paid Google One subscriptions.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scitech-brief--6846358/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.