Google is using chrome to put a 3gb AI file on people’s computer silently. This reports what they’re doing and how to disable it if one is using chrome.
People shouldn’t be using Chrome in the first place.
Google is using chrome to put a 3gb AI file on people’s computer silently.
It makes a good clickbait story but it’s just not true that this was some sort of secret project sprung on people at the last minute, they’ve been loudly announcing their AI integration in the browser for quite some time.
An article from 5/14/2024 explaining to developers how to integrate the AI into extensions, including an early preview version of the browser with local AI: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/ai/client-side
The local AI integration for Chrome has been public for over 2 years. They’ve spent money advertising it, wrote about it on their blog, and provided documentation for developers.
The story is just farming outrage, nobody has cared about this for 2 years but if the author fluffs up the technical details and frames it like they have uncovered some secret plot while also including ‘AI’, then they’re guaranteed to have their article be carried on a wave of outrage and spread all over social media.
tldr?
Google is making your personal computer do work for them, without asking.
Google is using chrome to put a 3gb AI file on people’s computer silently. This reports what they’re doing and how to disable it if one is using chrome.
And the lesson the chrome users should learn? Stop using chrome.
4GB*
People shouldn’t be using Chrome in the first place.
It makes a good clickbait story but it’s just not true that this was some sort of secret project sprung on people at the last minute, they’ve been loudly announcing their AI integration in the browser for quite some time.
For example:
Announcement video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56b9uHAcHYc
Blog post: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/ai-mode-chrome/
Developer documentation: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/ai/built-in
And product page: https://gemini.google/overview/gemini-in-chrome/
An article from 5/14/2024 explaining to developers how to integrate the AI into extensions, including an early preview version of the browser with local AI: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/ai/client-side
The local AI integration for Chrome has been public for over 2 years. They’ve spent money advertising it, wrote about it on their blog, and provided documentation for developers.
The story is just farming outrage, nobody has cared about this for 2 years but if the author fluffs up the technical details and frames it like they have uncovered some secret plot while also including ‘AI’, then they’re guaranteed to have their article be carried on a wave of outrage and spread all over social media.