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Google Chrome is reportedly auto-installing a massive 4GB AI model without your consent (www.neowin.net)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by throws_lemy@reddthat.com to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Chrome version 147 silently downloads Gemini Nano's weights.bin file to local storage, sparking major privacy, data, and legal concerns.

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[+] muntedcrocodile@hilariouschaos.com -7 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

What's wrong with this? Isn't it preferable to run the LLM locally for privacy reasons? Plus googles open weight models are pretty good for what they are.

[–] garretble@lemmy.world 8 points 23 hours ago

They don’t tell you they are doing it, for one.

Even though this 4GB is local, the “omnibox” at the top that also uses Gemini shit doesn’t use this 4GB and still goes to the web to determine the slop it wants to provide.

[–] atrielienz@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

It downloads the 4GB local model and then doesn't use it. Instead chrome LLM usage is routed through their online LLM service instead.

Chrome’s most recent release, version 147, now includes an AI Mode pill in the omnibox, however, this routes queries to cloud-based AI servers. The local model is not used by that AI, instead it powers features like “Help me write”.

[–] muntedcrocodile@hilariouschaos.com 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Some features being local is a win as far as I'm concerned. And its google what do people expect just seems like a very weird thing to get upset at google for.

[–] atrielienz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

You asked a question. I answered the question. I don't know what people expect these days but I expect programs to download what I tell them to when I tell them to and not suddenly decide to download things I don't tell them to. Back in the day we called programs that download things without the users consent viruses.

Especially if it redownloads and reinstalls itself after the user removes it. Doesn't matter what company it comes from that's not how things are supposed to work (MS does this same type of crap with copilot and that's also insane).