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Check your storage: Chrome may be downloading a 4GB AI model — here’s what we know (www.tomsguide.com)
submitted 6 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 31 points 6 months ago (8 children)

The more crap google pulls, the happier I am that I use Linux and GrapheneOS.

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  • [–] 23 points 6 months ago (5 children)

    Then wait till you hear about the way they are about to change recaptcha. A captcha app that only runs on verified devices, hand gestures, face scans ... I've only learned of that today... I hate this timeline.

    https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/identity-security/introducing-google-cloud-fraud-defense-the-next-evolution-of-recaptcha

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  • [–] 7 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    Im pretty sure every recaptcha I've encountered has been for a site I could live without.

    If I see this app and identity shit I'll probably just save myself some more money by backing out and giving up.

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    • [–] 24 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    For Windows 11 the folder to look for is %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\OptGuideOnDeviceModel\
    On my work laptop that folder didn't exist yet so for fun I created the folder and removed all permissions for everyone to it.
    Not sure what's gonna happen if Google Chrome wants to push the weights.bin file when the ntfs permissions deny it.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I am curious for an eventual update haha

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

    According to https://android.gadgethacks.com/news/chrome-weightsbin-file-what-the-4gb-ai-download-is-and-how-to-delete-it/ the machine needs 4GB of GPU VRAM among other requirements for Chrome to actually download the model.
    My work laptop doesn't have this so it seems I've blocked something that wasn't gonna happen anyways.
    Chrome has now successfully updated to the version 148.0.7778.97 that would've given me the weights.bin if I was running eligible hardware.

    edit: apparently I was wrong. My intel igpu counts my system ram as vram. I can't see that I've downloaded the weights.bin though.

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    • [–] 18 points 6 months ago

    Joke's on Google; I've avoided Chrome for quite a while now.

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    [–] 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (9 children)

    I haven't had desktop chrome for quite some time, and I certainly never will again after that.

    But I certainly hope they are not planning to push that shit on android. Leave my fucking storage alone, google

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  • [–] 6 points 6 months ago (5 children)

    If applicable: Why not ditch mobile Chrome too? There are plenty of decent forks that eliminate Google crap on them too.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    Next time I change my phone, I'll look into it (and probably choose it for that purpose). I don't want to risk ditching official support on this one just yet.

    Google aside, I chose a phone that comes relatively crap-free.

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  • [–] 6 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    You don't need to do anything wild to stop using Chrome on your Android phone! I have a stock ROM too, and I've got plenty of options for more private Chrome (and Firefox!) forks. Depending on what you use on your desktop, there's probably an equally private equivalent for your phone.

    • Desktop Firefox? Mobile Firefox. With bookmark sync.
    • Desktop Waterfox? Mobile Waterfox! Or Fennec or IronFox for something more private.
    • Desktop Brave? Mobile Brave.
    • Desktop Chromium? Cromite is great. It even has a little ad blocking now.
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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I have stopped using chrome on mobile too.

    Problem is, on a stock android you can't remove chrome, only hide it. So my point is, if they decide to force the model download on a chrome update, even if you never use it, it'll still ruin a good chunk of your storage space.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    Your phone doesn't let you uninstall updates and disable the app?! I've had good luck with that, and if it didn't work I would try Shizuku next, but YMMV depending on the phone model...

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    They don't have to implement this through chrome if you have a device that runs the Gemini app. I saw a comment on another thread that said the AI Core app for Gemini will take up like 4-12GB of storage or something like that.

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    • [–] 8 points 6 months ago

    They can try, but there's no space for that amount of data.

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    [–] 4 points 6 months ago

    I cant think of the last time I used chrome.

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