Multiple outlets report that Google Chrome has, in some cases, silently downloaded a large on-device AI model—described as a 4GB file—onto users’ computers without explicit consent. The model is variously identified as related to Google’s on-device AI efforts, including “Gemini Nano,” and appears to be downloaded only for eligible devices. Several reports describe how users can locate the file on their system, typically by searching the file system for the model’s name or associated folders, and then delete it if they do not want it stored locally. ZDNet and others characterize the file as potentially harmless, while acknowledging that some users are concerned about privacy, consent, and the impact of bandwidth and storage usage.
One report and at least one outlet’s description specifically note that if the file is deleted, Chrome may automatically re-download it. Across coverage, the central point is that Chrome downloads the model quietly, that some users can identify and remove it, and that the feature may not be obvious to users even if an “AI Mode” control exists.
