How to Disable Google’s Gemini in Chrome
If you use Google’s Chrome browser for desktop and didn’t know about it, there might be a small AI model running on your computer taking up about 4 GB of space. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you want to turn it off, here’s how.
Steps to Disable Gemini Nano
- To uninstall the Gemini Nano file:, open Chrome on your computer and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Then go to Settings, System, and toggle “On-device AI” off.
- Note: If you directly remove the Gemini Nano file from its directory, Chrome will automatically redownload it the next time the browser reboots.
To ensure this feature is disabled:
A Google spokesperson tells us that once disabled, “the model will no longer download or update.” Additionally, if you have low resources on your device, Chrome will automatically uninstall it.
What Gemini Nano Does
The Gemini Nano AI model was built into Chrome to enable important security features like on-device scam detection and developer APIs without sending data to the cloud. However, these features are separate from the browser’s AI Mode.
Parisa Tabriz, Chrome’s general manager, emphasized that integrating Gemini Nano “powers important security capabilities” in a post on X.
Why You Might Want to Disable It
A report by That Privacy Guy highlighted how many users were unaware of this feature. For those who simply use Chrome because it is the world’s most recognizable browser, the lack of an in-your-face notification about a large AI model file can be unsettling.
Longtime security and compliance consultant Davi Ottenheimer notes that on-device models could be a hidden minefield. “An on-device model could be a hidden minefield,” he says. The initial rollout didn’t include a user control, so users might not have known about it until now.
Alternatives
If you decide to turn off the On-device AI feature:
- The features Google uses Gemini Nano for—such as AI-enabled scam detection—will cease to function.
- This could have a range of outcomes when interacting with non-Google web services in the browser. For example, certain security features might not be available, and sites that use the on-device APIs will behave differently.
If neither option seems right for you—either because it’s too private or because blocking this route could affect your interactions with non-Google web services—you can always choose to use a different browser.
Key Takeaways
- The Gemini Nano AI model is built into Chrome and takes up about 4 GB of space on your computer.
- To disable it, you need to toggle “On-device AI” off in the Chrome settings.
- Removing the model could affect security features like scam detection and interactions with non-Google web services.
- Using a different browser is always an option if neither of these options seems right for your preferences or needs.
Note: This information is based on the provided text and should be verified by checking official Google documentation.
Originally published at wired.com. Curated by AI Maestro.
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