A new open-source tool is going viral over its promise to let users who aren’t interested in Apple Intelligence reclaim 12GB or more of storage on their Macs.
Like many companies adding AI tools, Apple has faced criticism for features that take up storage. While Apple Intelligence required up to 7GB on macOS 26, that figure has increased on macOS 27, with Apple saying its latest models can require up to 14GB. Indie developer Om Lahore published Remove Mac AI on GitHub, which turns off Apple Intelligence and removes its downloaded models.
The tool enables a configuration profile applying Apple’s own restriction keys, and uses Apple’s asset service to remove models. It turns off Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT extension, summaries, smart replies, and more. It removes foundation models, image generation, Genmoji, Spatial Photos, Clean Up, and Xcode completion. Dictation still works.
The process is reversible. While part of the outcry is knee-jerk, there’s a legitimate argument for users with limited storage, especially on 256GB Macs. However, Apple could change mechanisms, and third-party apps may rely on these models. Remove Mac AI is unofficial and system-level, so users should be comfortable with its workings.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing