Is Google listening to what Im saying?

How does the audio tracking get accepted? When you set up your Google account, it asks you to "opt in" to let Google track your video and audio recordings.

In one of a series of e-mails to USA TODAY, Google said it does this to improve the accuracy of the Google Assistant.

Google is so all-encompassing in tracking usthat when we started dictating a dummy phrase aloud into the Google Assistant app on an iPhone, Google transcribed every word.

The phrase: "We are told that Google only records you if you first use the wake word. Then how to explain this, huh?"

It recorded and transcribed every other query as well.

It's not just the wake word. Google, we discovered, can record, store and archive your queries when using the apps or even https://t.co/lhIuCc5DLl and voice search. How do you feel about this folks? https://t.co/rDJVotgtyd pic.twitter.com/byA9BW0lpl

Jefferson Graham (@jeffersongraham) January 4, 2020

We tried again on a Google Pixel Android phone and on the web version of Google.com using the microphone from the built-in webcam on an Apple MacBook Pro and the results were strikingly similar. We were recorded every time.

In response, Google says it records only when you click on the microphone. It adds that users have to "opt in" to have audio recordings stored to your account.

Which is better?Hey, Google and Alexa, how easy is it to take control?

Feelings: Can a robot with AI or your voice assistant help you feel less lonely?

But you're probably wondering:When did I opt in for this?

To get you to agree to this, Googleasks you to opt inby making certain features available.

For instance, Google Maps has a service called "Match," which suggests restaurants based on your past dining experiences and tastes. If you click on it, Google sends you to Settings to allow location history tracking.

Google also routes people to turn on location history in exchange for "real-time traffic updates based on your current location" or with Google Photos to "help improve auto-organization and search."

Opt in for those, and you'll be forever tracked.

Google says recording us can be used to improve speech systems:"You can let Google save a recording of your voice and other audio to give you more personalized experiences across Google services and to improve speech technologies for you and everyone."

In its lengthy pitch to get users to opt in for audio tracking, it tells users that they will get only a "limited" experience with the app if we don't accept audio tracking, as opposed to "full," which requires web, app, voice and audio activity for tracking calendar reminders, flights and more.

Say no, and the Assistant experience will be "limited to things like web results, jokes and local info."

To opt out of Google's audio tracking, go to your Google account settings, by clicking the icon of you at the top right of the webpage or app.

Click "Manage your Google account."

Select Data and Personalization.

Then Activity Controls, Web and App Activity.

De-select "Include Voice and Audio recordings."

Google will show you a pop-up window asking you to reconsider, saying that doing so "may limit" your personal experiences.

Once you did hit pause, Google reminds you that all the records it's already made on you have been stored. You'll need to go in and manually delete them if you want them wiped fromtheir servers.

Follow USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham (@jeffersongraham) on Twitter.