Google reveals how much free space Chrome wants to install local AI models
It's kind of a lot.
Google has provided updated information in its support documentation regarding the storage space required to install local AI models for Chrome's on-device AI features. According to the new documentation, users will need around 20 gigabytes of available storage space to download the necessary models. Previously, Google had confirmed that the models themselves occupy approximately 4 gigabytes of storage. Users have the option to disable these on-device AI features within Chrome's settings.
Google has been actively working on integrating Gemini more deeply into Chrome for some time. This spring, some users expressed confusion and frustration when Chrome began automatically downloading a multi-gigabyte file named "weights.bin," which enables Gemini Nano features to run locally. To address this concern, Google has now updated its documentation to clarify the additional storage space requirements for downloading the files needed to support local AI functionalities.
As reported by Windows Report (via PiunikaWeb), the Google Chrome Help Center entry on the browser's on-device generative AI models has been revised to reflect the need for approximately 20 gigabytes of free disk space for the installation of the models powering these features. Additionally, users will require an unmetered data connection and sufficient device performance to utilize these AI capabilities effectively.
Written by urgent.news from Android Authority's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
