Stop Chrome Browser From Downloading a Hidden 4GB AI File
MacRumors • • general
Key Points:
- Google Chrome has been automatically downloading a 4GB AI model file called "weights.bin" onto Macs without explicit user consent, causing unexpected storage usage.
- The file supports Chrome features like scam detection, autofill suggestions, and the "Help Me Write" tool, but its large size has raised concerns due to the lack of clear user notification.
- Users can check for the file by navigating to the "OptGuideOnDeviceModel" folder in Chrome's application support directory and confirm its presence and size.
- To permanently remove the file and prevent Chrome from re-downloading it, users need to disable the On-device AI feature in Chrome’s settings or disable AI-related flags if the toggle is unavailable.
- Disabling this feature will remove the model but also disable Chrome features that rely on it; users concerned about privacy or consent may consider switching to a different browser.