Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent

Re:Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your d... by JumpCrisscross on Tuesday May 05, 2026 @04:49PM (#48028318)

> really useful for web devs to have access to a local model

I’m not opposed to this. I don’t want Google, an advertising quasi monopoly, to be auto-installing its own AIs on everyone’s computers.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your d... by syndeo on Wednesday May 06, 2026 @12:07PM (#48037839)

Totally fair. Depends on how it's used, really.

If it's to allow the web apps I use to work with more privacy, or to enable smaller/indie players (that can't easily afford to burn a bunch of API tokens for every user) to offer some basic AI-based features in their web apps, then I'm all for that.

This is the whole appeal of Apple's Foundation models on iOS too.

[ Parent | on HN ]