Google Chrome is downloading a 4 GB Gemini Nano model onto users' machines without consent, with no opt-in, no opt-out short of enterprise tooling, and an automatic re-download every time the user deletes it. The pattern is identical to the Anthropic Claude Desktop case I wrote about last month, but the scale is between two and three orders of magnitude larger. This article does the legal analysis and, for the first time, the environmental analysis. The numbers are not small.
Use Shizuku and Canta to uninstall any uninstallable app. Or if you don’t want to bother, just disabling works fine too as long as you are not worried about the storage.
Learned about this the other day and gave it a whirl, worked great, felt reminiscent of old school iPod jailbreaking shenanigans, but I had no issues. Easier (in a way) than adb!
The only ways to make the deletion stick are to disable Chrome’s AI features through chrome://flags or enterprise policy tooling that home users do not generally have, or to uninstall Chrome entirely
It can probably be reverted at their whim at any time
You probably don’t have access to it
It is the most realistic option, just use another non chromium browser
Don’t even bother with 11. At all.
I bought a win11 laptop, didn’t create any accounts just installed the os… Then microsoft locked me out of the laptop with thier new bitlocker bs. It won’t even let me factory reset the effing thing.
Switched to linux and im happy. It’s just a steam deck, but it’s still a better pc than the bit brick.
Were you able to get your bitlocker key from your Microsoft account or save it when bitlocker activated? IIRC you can use that key to access the drive from a live Linux USB, get all your files off, then just install said Linux over the encrypted Windows install (which you should be able to do even if you don’t have the key).
The key is created when bitlocker activates, if bitlocker is on then there is a key. It’s the same as the password you create when you encrypt your Linux disk, it just creates a stupid long one for you so you will be inclined to make an account to save it rather than just remembering it like a password.
That sucks. But like I said before, you should still be able to use the drive/machine. You will just need to reinstall Windows or, preferably, install another OS. I recommend Mint or Fedora if you are new to installing OSes and KDE over Gnome if you are used to Windows.
How do we uninstall or block the download?
Uninstall chrome
And install Firefox or one of its many forks.
Can you even uninstall chrome on an android phone? I only get the option to disable.
You can use adb on a computer to remove chrome.
https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/188524/how-can-i-uninstall-google-chrome-on-my-android-and-recommend-a-suitable-replace#231279
this is very helpful info, thank you, didn’t realize this was possible.
Use Shizuku and Canta to uninstall any uninstallable app. Or if you don’t want to bother, just disabling works fine too as long as you are not worried about the storage.
Learned about this the other day and gave it a whirl, worked great, felt reminiscent of old school iPod jailbreaking shenanigans, but I had no issues. Easier (in a way) than adb!
That depends on the ROM you are using.
The one i am using (https://iode.tech/) is using a firefox based browser that you can actually uninstall.
Probably not stock Android. I’m on GrapheneOS and it doesn’t come with Chrome at all. But I don’t think the article is claiming it happens on Android.
Vanadium is Chrome derived; but I’m sure Graphene de-enshittifies it to the maximum possible extent.
Technically speaking, it is chromium derived which does make the difference in this instance.
Is this happening on android, too?
I don’t think so… yet… So not as disconcerting tbf, but curious to if it will come out of nowhere at some point, just like this.
So it just to the Chrome app?
The article actually gives 3 options:
Even Chromium should be fine. I doubt it has the branded Google AI features.
This is 5: https://pureinfotech.com/stop-chrome-gemini-nano-download-windows-11/
Obviously only windows focused, so how other platforms stop would require more searching.
I don’t have Windows 11. Still on 10 until October then switching to Linux.
Don’t even bother with 11. At all.
I bought a win11 laptop, didn’t create any accounts just installed the os… Then microsoft locked me out of the laptop with thier new bitlocker bs. It won’t even let me factory reset the effing thing.
Switched to linux and im happy. It’s just a steam deck, but it’s still a better pc than the bit brick.
Were you able to get your bitlocker key from your Microsoft account or save it when bitlocker activated? IIRC you can use that key to access the drive from a live Linux USB, get all your files off, then just install said Linux over the encrypted Windows install (which you should be able to do even if you don’t have the key).
There is no key. There’s no bitlocker account and theres no Microsoft account.
The key is created when bitlocker activates, if bitlocker is on then there is a key. It’s the same as the password you create when you encrypt your Linux disk, it just creates a stupid long one for you so you will be inclined to make an account to save it rather than just remembering it like a password.
Well theres no MS account, and there’s no way past the bitlocker screen, so… Its a bit-brick
That sucks. But like I said before, you should still be able to use the drive/machine. You will just need to reinstall Windows or, preferably, install another OS. I recommend Mint or Fedora if you are new to installing OSes and KDE over Gnome if you are used to Windows.