The 4GB Secret: Why Chrome is Surreptitiously Downloading AI Models to Your Hard Drive

The report alleges that Chrome is downloading a roughly 4GB file called 'weights.bin' (Gemini Nano model weights) to user systems without notification or opt-in, storing it in hidden system folders and automatically re-downloading if deleted; the behavior is presented as a potential GDPR/privacy violation and a substantial environmental footprint if widely distributed, and Google has not issued a response.