Newest Google sneaky ploy

[wtg]

If You Use Google Chrome, Your Device May Have Secretly Downloaded a 4GB AI Model

Here's how to check for the hidden file and delete it from your machine.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/if-you-use-google-chrome-your-device-may-have-secretly-downloaded-a-4gb-ai-model/

[Mik]

What about the browsers based on Chrome I wonder.

[Bernard]

Thankfully, I'm on Linux using Firefox.

[Axtremus]

Why is it a problem that a browser downloaded a 4 GB AI model to your computer?

Other than the size, it's just another form of caching that speeds up whatever AI tasks that you would have done on Google's cloud through your browser anyway. Using a local model allows local AI computation that is actually better for your privacy -- because it processes AI stuff right on your local machine rather than sending your data to the cloud for processing.

As long as it's downloaded only when you have ample storage available and on an unmetered connection (so it won't eat up your data plan allowance), it's actually a good thing -- good for your privacy (your data can stay local), good for Google (they can spend less on AI computation in their data centers), good for the environment (fewer, less powerful data centers need to be built to get the same amount of AI stuff done).

[wtg]

@Axtremus said:

Why is it a problem that a browser downloaded a 4 GB AI model to your computer?

They didn't tell you they did it.....

[Bernard]

@wtg And from what I've read, it cannot be deleted. Basically, an untrustworthy company has stolen 4GB of storage from those people's devices. If Google was honest they would have an opt-in option. But they're not honest, and that's a problem.