Google Chrome users are raising concerns after reports claimed the browser may be quietly downloading a large artificial intelligence (AI) model onto some computers without clear notification or consent.
The issue centers on “Gemini Nano,” Google’s on-device AI model, which powers several Chrome AI features locally instead of relying entirely on cloud processing.
According to cybersecurity expert Alexander Hanff, Chrome has been automatically downloading a roughly 4GB file called “weights.bin” onto eligible devices in the background.
Embedded AI Tools are Becoming More Common
Technology companies are increasingly embedding AI tools directly into consumer software and devices.
Running AI models locally can improve privacy and performance because data processing can happen on-device rather than being sent to remote servers.
Critics, however, argue users should be clearly informed before multi-gigabyte files are installed automatically.
‘Without asking’
In the post published on That Privacy Guy, Hanff said Chrome creates a folder called “OptGuideOnDeviceModel” and stores a large AI model file named “weights.bin” on supported computers.
Hanff wrote that Chrome downloaded the model “without asking” and said the browser would re-download the file if users manually removed it.
To test the behavior, Hanff said he created a fresh Chrome profile on an Apple Silicon Mac and monitored system-level filesystem logs.
According to the report, Chrome downloaded the model during idle browser activity without direct user interaction.
‘So, mAIware?’
In a statement to Newsweek, a Google spokesperson said Gemini Nano offers “important security capabilities like scam detection and developer APIs without sending your data to the cloud.”
“While this requires some local space on the desktop to run, the model will automatically uninstall if the device is low on resources,” the spokesperson said. “In February, we began rolling out the ability for users to easily turn off and remove the model directly in Chrome settings. Once disabled, the model will no longer download or update.”
Commenters on Reddit’s r/browsers forum weighed in on the post.
“This is true, checked my PC and a 4GB AI model was in AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/UserData/OptGuideOnDeviceModel,” a user wrote.
“So, mAIware?” another commenter replied.
“I can’t believe so many people use Chrome still,” a third individual posted, adding “Firefox all the way.”
However, one commenter wasn’t entirely convinced: “If it’s Gemini Nano, isn’t that supposed to help with on-device AI tasks so the model doesn’t have to contact a server? In theory, that could help provide more privacy-friendly AI solutions, not less. I’m also not completely on-board with his legal analysis but I want to look at it more closely before I decide.
“I do agree that installing it without the user’s knowledge or consent is pretty s***ty though.”
How to Check Your Computer
Users who want to check whether the AI model is installed can search for the “OptGuideOnDeviceModel” folder or visit chrome://on-device-internals inside Chrome.
Users may also be able to disable the feature through Chrome’s on-device AI settings under the browser’s System menu or by adjusting experimental flags through chrome://flags.
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