Chrome's Secret 4GB AI Download Angers Users

Google Chrome has been reportedly downloading a 4GB AI model, Gemini Nano, onto users' devices without their knowledge or consent. This on-device AI is designed to perform various tasks, such as identifying scam calls and summarizing text. Privacy advocates, including legal expert Alexander Hanff, argue that this covert installation may violate data privacy laws like the EU's GDPR due to a lack of transparency.

Gemini Nano requires specific hardware to run and will automatically uninstall if a device lacks sufficient resources like processing power or storage. Google has indicated that users can disable and remove the model through Chrome settings, with an option to prevent further downloads. This move is speculated to be a cost-saving measure for Google, shifting AI processing from cloud servers to user hardware.