You can now turn off the Google Chrome AI model behind the scam detection
tool Google confirms AI model was hosted on your device

Date:
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:04:10 +0000

Description:
You can now reduce some of the Chrome burden on your device by disabling the AI model behind the enhanced protection mode of Chrome's scam detection tool.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Google Chrome users will soon be able to opt-out from an AI model Chrome added an AI model as part of the 'enhanced protection' mode The AI model was hosted locally on the user's device

Google has added a new toggle to the experimental Canary version of Chrome which allows users to disable the AI model that assists in scam detection.

The locally-hosted AI model was added to scam detection last year in what was communicated as a way to enhance real-time protection.

Google has also confirmed that the AI model was being hosted locally on your device through Google Chrome. A rare opt-out in the AI era

Googles scam detection tool scans websites, extensions, and downloads that
the web browser deems to be potentially unsafe to check if they could be part of a scam.

At a time when software is being loaded with non-optional AI, Googles choice to allow users to opt-out from using the AI model is a rare win for internet users who call Chrome home.

The exact benefits that the AI-assisted version of the scam detection tool provided against the non-AI version arent exactly clear. Many of the best antivirus software often include AI-scam detection software that is trained
in pattern recognition - so it wouldnt be too much of a logical jump to
assume Googles tool was doing something along the same lines. (Image credit: Google Chrome)

X user Leopeva64 spotted the addition of enhanced protection powered by AI
way back in November 2024, and subsequently spotted the addition of the
latest opt-out toggle in the latest Chrome Canary release.

In order to opt-out of the AI powered enhanced protection mode, users need to navigate to the Chrome settings, head to System, and then turn off "On-device GenAI." While the option is only currently available in Canary, the opt-out will likely be available to all Chrome users in the next update.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/you-can-now-turn-off-the-google-chrome- ai-model-behind-the-scam-detection-tool-google-confirms-ai-model-was-hosted-on -your-device


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