A.I. News Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge could quietly download up to 20GB AI models on Windows 11

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Back in May, Google Chrome made headlines after it was discovered that the browser could automatically download a roughly 4GB AI model to compatible PCs.
The model is used for Chrome's on-device AI features, allowing certain AI capabilities to run locally rather than sending everything to Google's servers; however, the fact that Chrome could quietly consume several gigabytes of storage understandably raised some eyebrows.

As if that was not enough, Google has now quietly expanded its official Google Help documentation with additional information about these on-device AI models, which now says that Chrome wants around 20GB of free disk space before it can download the models.

If you are wondering why Chrome needs so much free space, Google does not specify exactly; though it also does not appear to be saying that the model occupies 20GB.
Instead, the 20GB figure appears to be a prerequisite for the download to take place, with the actual model requiring lower storage.

Here are the full requirements on Chrome:
  • Network connection: Unmetered network connection.
  • Minimum free disk space: 20GB (approximate).
  • Sufficient device performance.
It is not just Chrome, though, which has recently raised this limit to 20GB; Microsoft's Edge is no different, as it too has set aside a 20GB minimum space requirement to download the local AI models.
The other points are also similar, though Microsoft also adds a requirement for a minimum of 5.5GB of GPU VRAM to be eligible.

Microsoft writes:
  • OS: Windows 10 or 11 and macOS 13.3 or later.
  • Storage: At least 20 GB available on the volume that contains your Edge profile.
  • GPU: 5.5 GB of VRAM or more.
  • Network: Unlimited data plan or unmetered connection. The model is not downloaded if using a metered connection.

There is a silver lining to all this, however. You can now disable on-device AI inside Chrome Settings > System. Meanwhile, Edge says that if the available storage drops below 10 GB, the model will be deleted automatically to ensure that other browser features have sufficient space to function.

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Sorrento said:
My entire OS drive is only 33 Gig so I'm sure i will notice, IF anyone including MS adds such AI I am gone that very day if i can't sort it, it really is that simple, no ifs no buts! Gone ! :p:p:cool:
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I am keeping Edge just to avoid breaking things and not to use Brave containers.
In LTSC, Edge is uninstallable; they should not push their luck.
 
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Chrome 496 MB
Chrome On-device AI = off

Edge 2.68 GB
Edge "GenAILocalFoundationalModelSettings" value is already set to 1
~ head scratch ~

Edit:
I'm not finding \Edge\User Data\EdgeLLMOnDeviceModel\

edge://on-device-internals
On-Device Internals > Model Status
Foundational model state: Not Eligible

as per WizTree and AI
The 2.68 GB figure represents a mathematical illusion caused by how Windows Settings calculates storage for deeply integrated system apps, not actual data on your drive.

It is the sum of shared system components being counted multiple times:

  1. Edge Binaries (Program Files): ~878 MB
  2. WebView2 Runtime (Shared with Teams, Widgets, etc.): ~848 MB
  3. EdgeCore (Shared rendering engine): ~2 GB
  4. EdgeUpdate (Shared updater): ~213 MB
The Error: Because these folders contain hard-linked files (files that exist once on the disk but are referenced by multiple apps), Windows Settings adds their size to Edge’s total and counts them again for every other app that uses them.

  • Actual Physical Space Used: ~394 MB (confirmed by WizTree).
  • Reported "App Size": 2.68 GB (the inflated sum of shared parts counted repeatedly).
You are not losing 2.68 GB of space; you are only using ~394 MB. The rest is shared infrastructure required for Windows to function.
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No AI Models Downloaded: "Not Eligible" means the ~2–4 GB model file was never downloaded.
Safe to Ignore: You do not need to fix this. Your browser is functioning normally without the local AI component.
Disk Space: Your actual usage remains ~394 MB. The previous 2.68 GB figure was purely a Windows Settings reporting error.

The status "Not Eligible" confirms that your hardware or current configuration does not meet the requirements to download or run the local AI model. This explains why the EdgeLLMOnDeviceModel folder is missing and why your disk usage is low (~394 MB).

Since your registry key GenAILocalFoundationalModelSettings is set to 1 (Blocked), Edge may also report "Not Eligible" simply because the policy forbids it, regardless of your hardware.
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