Chrome browser silently 'consumes' 4 GB of hard drive space to run AI.

Google has unilaterally 'appropriated' 4 GB of hard drive space on millions of Chrome users' computers to run its AI.

According to 9to5Google , whether intentionally or not, Google is turning users' computers into local AI "experiment stations." A recent Chrome update silently installed the Gemini Nano model, consuming up to 4 GB of hard disk space without any warning.

Chrome consumes 4 GB of storage space.

Based on reports from The Privacy Guy and major tech forums, Google Chrome has begun deploying the Gemini Nano AI model directly onto users' devices. Notably, this process is happening completely silently. Many users only notice a decrease in storage space upon closer inspection of their system.

Chrome browser consumes 4 GB of hard drive space to run AI.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Specifically, this data is stored in a folder named " OptGuideOnDeviceModel " as a file named weights.bin. At 4 GB in size, this is a significant amount, especially for users with low-capacity SSDs.

Regarding the reason, Google stated that pre-loading the Gemini Nano model enables smart features like "Help me write" and the phishing detection system directly on the device. Processing data locally instead of sending it to the cloud is said to increase security and processing speed. However, the installation of large files is facing criticism from the community for violating users' privacy and device control.

Following strong reactions, Google officially stated that the system has a self-regulating mechanism. The Chrome browser will proactively delete the Gemini Nano model if it detects that the user's computer memory is running low.

However, if you want to proactively reclaim storage space, you can go to Settings > System (on Windows) to turn off the 'On-device AI' option. On macOS, this feature is being gradually rolled out in the latest versions. Note that if you only manually delete the weights.bin file, Chrome will automatically reload it on the next startup unless this feature is completely disabled in the settings.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trinh-duyet-chrome-am-tham-nuot-4-gb-o-cung-de-chay-ai-185260507095621496.htm