Google adds Chrome toggle to disable Gemini Nano AI
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- Google auto‑downloaded the Gemini Nano AI model (~4 GB) into Chrome for desktop users beginning in 2024.
- Chrome added an “On‑device AI” toggle in its Settings → System menu in February, allowing users to turn off Gemini Nano and stop further downloads.
- Google told WIRED the disabling the toggle prevents the model from downloading or updating, and the system auto‑uninstalls the model on low‑resource devices.
- Parisa Tabriz, Chrome’s general manager, said Gemini Nano powers on‑device scam detection and developer APIs while keeping data local.
- Privacy Guy reported that manual deletion of the Gemini Nano file triggers Chrome to re‑download it, and security consultant Davi Ottenheimer warned that hidden on‑device models can be a “minefield” for users.
Why it matters: Desktop Chrome users regain control over a 4 GB AI model that was silently installed, while Google’s toggle aims to ease resource strain and privacy concerns, but hidden downloads still pose security risks.
