"If you use Google's Chrome browser for desktop, there's probably a Gemini Nano AI model running on your computer right now and taking up about 4 GB of space. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if you didn't know about it and don't want it, there's a way to turn it off."
"To uninstall the Gemini Nano file, open Chrome on your computer, in the top right corner click the "More" menu represented by three vertical dots, then go to Settings, System, and then toggle "On-device AI" to be off. The Privacy Guy article noted that if you directly uninstall the Gemini Nano file in the directory, Chrome will silently, automatically redownload it the next time the browser reboots."
"A Google spokesperson tells WIRED that the company started rolling out the On-device AI toggle in February so users can turn off the features if they choose and remove the model. "Once disabled, the model will no longer download or update," the spokesperson says in a statement. The company added, too, that the system is designed so Gemini Nano "will automatically uninstall if the device is low on resources.""
"Google built the model into Chrome to enabled on-device AI scam-detection features. It was also aimed at providing a way for developers to integrate AI-related application programming interfaces while keeping data on users' devices when possible and out of the cloud. These features are separate from Chrome's AI Mode, which does not use the local Gemini Nano model."
Gemini Nano is an on-device AI model included in desktop Chrome and can occupy about 4 GB. The model began auto-downloading for Chrome users in 2024 after it was built into the browser. Users who want to remove it can open Chrome settings, go to System, and turn off the On-device AI toggle. Directly uninstalling the model file may lead to silent redownload when Chrome restarts. Google rolled out the toggle in February so users can disable the feature and remove the model. When disabled, the model will not download or update, and it may automatically uninstall if the device has low resources. The model supports on-device AI scam-detection and developer integration of AI APIs while keeping data on the device when possible, separate from Chrome’s AI Mode.
Read at WIRED
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