Google adds Chrome toggle to disable and remove Gemini Nano
Updated
Updated · WIRED · May 7
Google adds Chrome toggle to disable and remove Gemini Nano
10 articles · Updated · WIRED · May 7
The desktop browser’s local AI model takes about 4GB, began auto-downloading in 2024, and Google says the control has been rolling out since February.
Users can switch off On-device AI in Chrome settings, stopping future downloads and updates, but disabling it also turns off on-device scam detection and can affect sites using local AI APIs.
Google says Gemini Nano keeps some processing on devices rather than in the cloud and may uninstall automatically on low-resource systems, after criticism that many users were unaware it was installed.
Is Google's 4GB AI a privacy shield against new threats or a hidden minefield for user control and device resources?
Is Google’s silent 4GB AI download a vital security update or a massive breach of digital trust and privacy laws?