Chrome’s AI feature may be saving up to 4GB of your computer’s storage

Google Chrome may be taking up more of your storage space than expected due to a large AI sample file that is, in some cases, downloaded to the browser’s system folders. Users who have seen unknown drops in their storage space for the latest technology are now finding that Chrome is placing a 4GB weights.bin file inside their browser when certain AI features are enabled.

The weights.bin file in question is associated with Google’s version of Gemini Nano AIwhich supports Chrome AI tools such as fraud detection, text support, autofill, and suggestions. Since the Gemini Nano version is designed for local use, you should use training sessions stored on your device instead of downloading data from cloud-based versions. This provides privacy benefits, but it’s not as good if you’re not saving it – especially since users aren’t properly informed about the size of the file.

If you have Gemini AI enabled on Chrome, it’s possible that the 4GB file has already been downloaded to your system. You can check by opening your Chrome data folder and checking the OptGuideOnDeviceModel folder for the weights.bin file.

You can’t just remove this feature to free up space, though – if you still have AI tools, Chrome can download it later. This means you have to go to Settings > System and change the On-Device AI option removing those items and preventing the file from coming back.

Google notes that “the actual size of the Gemini Nano may vary with browser settings,” but this is a given a long guide to the built-in AI features instead of just enabling them in Chrome. If Google would have made storage more understandable to users – or given the option to use the Chrome AI feature with cloud-based colors – this confusion could have been avoided. We’ve reached out to Google for the answer.