Overview
- Security researcher Alexander Hanff reported that Chrome downloaded a roughly 4GB on‑device AI model without a consent prompt on some machines, and outlets including Snopes and PC Gamer found the file on select Windows and macOS desktops.
- The model is Google’s Gemini Nano and appears as a file named weights.bin in an OptGuideOnDeviceModel folder inside Chrome’s user data.
- Multiple reports say the file can re‑download after manual deletion, while Google says a System setting in Chrome lets users turn off on‑device AI and remove the model, which Snopes staff tested with the files remaining gone during monitoring.
- Windows 11 offers a Registry and Group Policy control called GenAILocalFoundationalModelSettings that can block downloads of local AI models and remove any already stored, and it works for both Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
- Google says the model is offered only on eligible desktop machines and powers features like scam detection and writing help with processing kept on device, as legal and environmental concerns raised by researchers remain untested.