Google Chrome Installs 4GB Gemini AI Model Locally
Get the Tech newsletter
Daily tech — startups, AI labs, chips, the launches that shape the next decade. Free.
- Google Chrome silently installed a 4 GB local large language model on users’ computers without explicit notification.
- Gemini AI powers the on‑device model, allowing Chrome to run language tasks locally.
- Chrome provides a setting to disable the Gemini feature for users who find it intrusive.
- Google has not announced any new local AI capabilities, confirming that the current implementation is unchanged and still confusing to users.
Why it matters: Chrome’s hidden 4 GB Gemini AI runs on millions of devices, consuming resources and exposing users to unannounced software changes, while Google must confront trust concerns and potential regulatory scrutiny.
