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Chrome may secretly download a 4GB AI model raising permission and privacy questions
Technology
Published on 6 May 2026
A compatibility check could trigger an unnoticed mega download
A security researcher claims Google Chrome may be downloading a 4GB AI model on some devices after a system compatibility check, potentially without clear user permission. The model appears tied to on device AI features and may go unnoticed until users see lower storage or higher data usage. The report has sparked fresh privacy and consent concerns.
- Researcher alleges Chrome fetches a 4GB AI model automatically
- Download may start after a system compatibility check
- Users may only notice via storage loss or increased data use
- Consent and permission practices are now under scrutiny
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times