Google Chrome Is Silently Downloading a 4GB Gemini Nano AI Model to User Devices With

[harlan4096]

Google Chrome has been quietly downloading around 4GB of Gemini Nano AI model weights to user devices without their consent, and it automatically re-downloads the files if they are deleted. This behavior has been confirmed on Windows 11, Apple Silicon, and Ubuntu systems, with user reports indicating it has been happening for about a year.

The files are stored in a folder named OptGuideOnDeviceModel. On Windows 11, the path is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\OptGuideOnDeviceModel.

What Chrome’s 4GB Gemini Nano Download Is Used For

The 4GB folder isn't used for Chrome's main AI features. The AI Mode that appears in the address bar and in Google Search runs on Google's servers, not from the locally stored weights. The downloaded model is only used for writing assistance and a few other features that are accessible through several menus in the browser.
Users who haven't enabled or looked for those features might have the model stored on their device without realizing it serves any function they use.

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