Google has released its new AI-powered messaging app Allo to iOS and Android users. But the version rolling out today will store all non-Incognito messages by default, which is a change from Google's earlier promises.

Google first announcedAllo at its I/O event in May. Presented as a privacy-focused messaging app, Google had promised thatAllo will store messages only "transiently" and in non-identifiable form.The app is now available to users, but with much weaker privacy protection measures. Allowill hold on to chat conversations indefinitely until the user actively deletes them.

Don't want Google to listen in? Don't use Allo

Google is backing off on one of its primary promised features when it comes Allo’s privacy. Thecompanywill have access to a full history of conversations in the app. As, by default, all the non-Incognito messages will be stored until the user deletes them.Similar to Gmail, Allo messages will be encrypted between the user’s device and Google servers.

The companysays this U-turn was taken to make Allo’s standout feature, Google Assistant, be able to provide better context-relevant suggestions.Allo’s smart assistant generates suggested responses inside a conversation. Sincethe smart replies are more accurate when they have access to more data, Google decided to give up on privacy protections of auto-removal of chat history to make Allo "smarter."

Google's support states that a user can choose to wipe their chat history. It also says that Allo holds on to people's data to offer them with "a more personalized experience".

Or, use Allo's Incognito mode... But with no AI-fun

Users can still use the end-to-end encrypted Incognito mode to avoid chat storage on Google’s servers. Allo’s Incognito mode prevents Assistant from listening in the conversations. It also makes your chat inaccessible to law enforcement orGoogle itself. But, this mode is not enabled by default.

When Google first presented Allo, two of the most standout features were smart assistance and privacy protections.

To beat the heavy weights like WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram, Google had to offer something different, something better to make peoplemove from their current messaging apps to Allo. WhatsApp only holds on to messages until they have been delivered, and Telegram promises to never scan chat conversation. With Allo storing chat histories indefinitely, this will be a serious drawback when compared to other popular apps.

But, can Google make smart assistance worth the privacy dangers? Activists and security enthusiasts don’t agree.

What people want: tech companies not storing their chat logs. What tech companies give them -- pointless bots. pic.twitter.com/2ypCmFpRV0

— Matthew Green (@matthew_d_green) September 21, 2016

What is #Allo? A Google app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 21, 2016

Google Allo launches today. Don't use allo. https://t.co/6OKtviqKuI

— Jason Koebler (@jason_koebler) September 21, 2016

This change in plans essentially means that law enforcement gets full access to Allo messages with warrant requests. While Apple gained some privacy points when it fought the FBI over the San Bernardino case, Googlekeeps its hold onto its image of being "Google Surveillance." But, it does save the company fromdealing with any legal confrontationswith governments.

Making encryption opt-in was a decision made by the business and legal teams. It enables Google to mine chats and not piss off governments.

— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) May 18, 2016

Would users fall for another app that allowsGoogle to learn even more about you? If Allo is as smart as Google suggests, we might just see users downloading it for some added fun, forgetting about failedprivacy promises.