Google has updated Chrome’s documentation to explicitly state system requirements for its on-device AI capabilities. The browser now mandates approximately 20 GB of free disk space to download and operate local AI models. It’s important to note: the actual model files (like Gemini Nano) are much smaller (around 4 GB); the remaining 16 GB are reserved by Chrome as a safety buffer. Before initiating a download, the browser checks several conditions: a stable, unthrottled internet connection, sufficient device performance, and the required disk space. These local AI functions enable features such as writing assistance, page summarization, and tab organization — all processed directly on the user’s device without sending data to Google’s servers. Users can disable this functionality in settings (under System → “AI on device”) if they prefer.
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