Google Chrome silently installs the 4 GB ‘Gemini Nano’ model
There is no way to opt out of this directly, and if you delete the model, it will be downloaded again.
The author of the resource ThatPrivacyGuy reported that the Chrome browser is unknowingly installing the Gemini Nano AI model on users’ computers. He clarified that Google doesn’t ask for user consent and that removing the model will result in its reinstallation.
The file is called weights.bin and is located in the OptGuideOnDeviceModel folder. It weighs approximately 4 GB and is used by the browser’s built-in AI features. The issue affects not only Windows users but also Mac users. The author reported that in an experiment, it took less than 15 minutes for a freshly installed browser to load Gemini Nano without any user interaction.
You can disable this Google-imposed functionality as follows:
- Open chrome://flags
- Disable the Enables optimization guide on device setting
- Disable Prompt API setting for Gemini Nano
- Delete the OptGuideOnDeviceModel folder if it’s already installed. It’s located at “Local Disk: (C) → username → AppData → Local → Chrome.” The AppData folder is initially hidden; you need to enable it in File Explorer’s preferences (select “Show hidden folders and files”). On macOS, the folder is located at “~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome.”
In addition to potential breaches of data protection and IT laws, the expert also sees a significant impact on the climate. Given Chrome’s global scale, such a mass download could generate between 6,000 and 60,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent. “That’s the price of a company deciding to equip billions of devices with data without their consent,” writes Alexander Hanff.
The author’s main complaint is that nowhere in the Chrome installation interface does it state that Gemini Nano will be installed, and users are not given the option to opt out. The author believes this violates EU transparency laws, which prohibit the installation of unnecessary software without user consent, and also has a negative environmental impact, leading to increased emissions, given that Chrome is used by billions of people.
The author of the thread previously accused the AI company Anthropic of secretly collecting data when installing software. But the scale of the problem with Chrome is much larger, as the browser is the world’s leading. Author Hanff calls for greater transparency and more choice. In his opinion, a simple warning before downloading would have been enough. According to him, whether Google responds to the criticism could show how seriously the company takes responsible artificial intelligence and sustainability.
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