Millions of people use Google Chrome every day to browse the internet, but some users are now discovering that the browser may have quietly installed a large artificial intelligence model onto their computers without their knowledge.
According to reports highlighted by Swedish computer scientist and privacy advocate Alexander Hanff, also known online as “That Privacy Guy,” certain Chrome users may have automatically received a 4GB AI model called Gemini Nano through browser updates.
Gemini Nano is part of Google’s growing family of artificial intelligence tools and is designed to run directly on a device instead of relying entirely on cloud servers. The model can assist with features such as summarizing recordings, helping compose text messages, detecting scam calls, and analyzing screenshots on supported devices.
The concern among some privacy advocates is not necessarily the existence of the AI model itself, but the way it may have been installed.
Hanff claims many users were never asked for permission and may not even realize the software exists on their devices. Reports indicate the installation only occurs on systems that meet certain hardware requirements, including sufficient RAM, storage space, processing power, and bandwidth.
A spokesperson for Google told media outlets that the feature was rolled out beginning in February and that users now have the ability to disable and remove the model through Chrome settings. Google also stated the AI model may automatically uninstall itself if a device lacks enough available resources.
Still, critics argue the silent installation raises concerns about transparency, storage usage, energy consumption, and digital privacy.
Hanff suggested the move may help Google reduce the cost of running AI systems by shifting more processing work from company servers onto personal computers and devices.
“Running inference on users’ own hardware allows them to push AI features without the compute costs,” Hanff reportedly said.
The issue may also raise legal questions overseas. Hanff argued the practice could potentially conflict with portions of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which emphasizes transparency and informed consent regarding data-related technologies.
Users curious whether Gemini Nano is installed on their device can search their computer’s file manager for a folder titled “OptGuideOnDeviceModel.” Inside that folder is a file called “weights.bin,” which reportedly contains the AI model.
Those wishing to remove it can either uninstall Chrome entirely or disable the feature manually by typing “chrome://flags” into the Chrome address bar and turning off the setting labeled “Enables optimization guide on device.”
The story highlights a growing debate in the technology world as companies race to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday software. While many users appreciate AI-powered conveniences, others are increasingly asking how much control consumers truly have over what gets installed and run on their personal devices.