{
  "id": 12228627,
  "title": "Get rid of Apple's AI bloatware and reclaim 12 GB of storage with this open source tool",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/get-rid-of-apples-ai-bloatware-and-reclaim-12-gb-of-storage-with-this",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-05T19:24:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/ai-and-ml/2026/10/05/get-rid-of-apples-ai-bloatware-and-reclaim-12-gb-of-storage-with-this-open-source-tool/5301213"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple's introduction of AI features into its operating systems has faced mixed reactions, and the effort to make Apple Intelligence fully optional has been met with criticism. To help users reclaim storage space and simplify their experience, an open source tool called RemoveMacAI has emerged. This tool, available on GitHub, is designed to remove Apple Intelligence from macOS and eliminate the associated AI features, downloaded models, and associated features like Genmoji, random writing enhancements, notification summaries, and automatic photo cleanup.\n\nOm Lahorey, the creator of RemoveMacAI, expressed frustration with Apple's complex settings system, which scattered AI-related options across the operating system. Lahorey's goal with the tool was to provide a single-step solution to remove all Apple Intelligence features, and the results have been impressive. The GitHub repository for RemoveMacAI has garnered over 1,500 stars, indicating a strong reception from users seeking a straightforward way to rid their systems of AI bloatware.\n\nTo effectively remove Apple Intelligence, RemoveMacAI creates a configuration profile that utilizes Apple's own restriction keys for the AI features. Once installed, the tool removes the downloaded models via Apple's asset service. The tool provides users with the option to keep selected features enabled or disable Apple Intelligence entirely. If needed, a single command can revert the changes, restoring the system to its previous state. Removing the models reduces the storage space occupied by Apple Intelligence, potentially freeing up over 12 GB, depending on the specific Mac.\n\nRemoveMacAI's success is partly due to its reliance on another open source tool called pared, which maps the asset service, model sets, and settings keys required for the removal process. The creators of pared have collaborated to make RemoveMacAI more user-friendly, making it easier for macOS users to navigate the removal process.\n\nOne of the key advantages of RemoveMacAI is that it does not interfere with System Integrity Protection, ensuring that the changes remain stable even after macOS updates. Dictation functions are also preserved, as the tool only targets specific AI components rather than general speech models. However, it's important to note that the future of RemoveMacAI's effectiveness remains uncertain, as any future macOS updates could potentially render the tool obsolete. Nonetheless, for those looking to streamline their macOS experience and reclaim storage space, RemoveMacAI remains a viable solution worth considering.",
  "summary": "Meet RemoveMacAI",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "Get rid of Apple's AI bloatware and reclaim 12 GB of storage with this open source tool",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/get-rid-of-apples-ai-bloatware-and-reclaim-12-gb-of-storage-with-this-12230780",
        "published": "2026-10-05T19:24:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}