Google Chrome’s silent 4GB AI download problem
ID: 842037f0-9d81-51b6-9795-28117639c3df
STIX ID: report--842037f0-9d81-51b6-9795-28117639c3df
Feed Name: Malwarebytes Blog
Google Chrome has been automatically downloading a 4GB on-device AI model (Gemini Nano) into users' Chrome profiles without asking for consent, storing it as weights.bin in the OptGuideOnDeviceModel directory; deleting the file causes Chrome to re-download it. The report highlights user-cost and environmental impacts of the silent distribution, potential violations of EU privacy laws, and that prominent Chrome AI features still route queries to Google cloud despite the local model, raising transparency and privacy concerns.
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