In case your Mac’s storage has been mysteriously shrinking not too long ago and you employ Google Chrome, you could have already recognized the offender. The browser has been downloading a 4GB AI mannequin file onto computer systems with out specific person consent. Here is easy methods to reclaim the area.
The file in query is named “weights.bin,” which powers Google’s on-device Gemini Nano AI mannequin – the engine behind Chrome options like rip-off detection, autofill solutions, and the “Assist Me Write” instrument. Native fashions are usually fairly large storage-wise, and this one isn’t any totally different. The issue is that Google hasn’t clearly signposted the truth that it is consuming 4GB of your drive with coaching knowledge.
The difficulty solely not too long ago got here to gentle due to safety researcher Alexander Hanff, who seen that Chrome installs the mannequin on any machine assembly the minimal {hardware} necessities, solely with out prompting you whether or not you’d prefer it there within the first place.
Test if the File Is on Your Mac
The very first thing to do is verify that the mannequin is definitely taking on area in your machine. Whereas there is no clear reply in Google’s launch notes, current experiences counsel that the file began showing after updating to Chrome model 148.0.7778.97. Here is how you could find out in case your laptop was affected:
- Open Finder, then click on Go within the menu bar.
- Maintain the Choice key and click on Library within the dropdown menu.
- Open Software Assist ➝ Google ➝ Chrome ➝ Default.
- Search for a folder named “OptGuideOnDeviceModel.”
If the folder exists and accommodates a file referred to as weights.bin, the mannequin is put in. You possibly can right-click the file and select Get Data to substantiate its dimension. If the folder is not there, you’ll be able to chill out – Chrome hasn’t downloaded the mannequin to your Mac.
Take away the 4GB File for Good
Merely deleting weights.bin from Chrome’s library folder is not a long-term resolution as a result of Chrome will doubtless quietly re-download it the subsequent time you launch the browser. To make the elimination everlasting, you might want to disable Chrome’s on-device AI options.
- Open Chrome.
- Click on the three-dot menu within the top-right nook, then select Settings.
- Within the left sidebar, click on System.
- Toggle off On-device AI.
As soon as this setting is switched off, Chrome will take away the mannequin and will cease downloading it in future updates. Keep in mind that deleting the mannequin can even disable any Chrome options that depend on it.
For those who do not see the toggle in Chrome’s Settings, it doubtless hasn’t propagated to your laptop but. In that case, kind chrome://flags into Chrome’s handle bar and disable any AI-related flags you see, then delete the weights.bin file manually in Finder. If after that you simply’re nonetheless involved concerning the lack of consent, it is likely to be price switching to a unique browser.
