Summary provided by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Tech Advisor has uncovered that disabling AICore, a system application that powers local AI features on Google Pixel smartphones, can free up significant storage space and RAM.
- For users experiencing performance issues, disabling AICore is crucial as it reserves approximately 3GB of RAM and can lead to device sluggishness on certain Pixel models.
- Disabling AICore will disable local Gemini Nano features like Magic Compose and Recorder summaries, but it will eliminate intrusive AI notifications while still allowing cloud-based Gemini functionality.
If you own a Pixel smartphone, you may have noticed a decrease in storage space. A pre-installed system app called AICore could be the reason behind this. It consumes up to 7 gigabytes of storage and a considerable amount of RAM, even when not actively in use. Below, we delve into what AICore is and how you can disable it to reclaim space and improve performance on your phone.
What is AICore and why does it use so much storage?
AICore is a system app exclusive to Google Pixel smartphones. Its primary function is to enable local AI models like Gemini Nano, keep them updated, and integrate them with other applications. These large language models (LLMs) power features such as Magic Compose, Call Notes, Pixel Screenshots, summaries in the Recorder app, and image recognition in Pixel Studio.
John Brandon / Foundry
However, the drawback is that AICore permanently reserves a significant amount of storage and RAM, regardless of whether the AI features are actively used or not. For instance, on the Pixel 10, Google allocates about 3GB of RAM exclusively to AICore and the Tensor chip’s AI processor. This memory remains unavailable to other applications. Therefore, if you notice frequent background app closures or sluggish performance, AICore may be the underlying issue.
Since AICore is a system app, it cannot be completely uninstalled but can be disabled.
What happens if you disable AICore?
Disabling AICore means forfeiting all features that rely on Gemini Nano locally on the device: Pixel Screenshots, auto summarization in the Recorder app, AI-powered suggestions in Pixel Journal, and text rephrasing suggestions in Magic Compose will cease to function.
Nevertheless, the Gemini app itself remains unaffected as it utilizes Gemini 3 via the cloud without requiring local processing. All other apps without on-device AI capabilities will continue to operate as usual. If you seldom or never use the AI features on your Pixel device, disabling them will have minimal impact.
An additional benefit is that the sometimes intrusive AI notifications will cease after deactivation.
How to disable AICore on your Pixel smartphone
- Access the Settings app.
- Navigate to “Apps” in Settings.
- Scroll through the list or utilize the search function to locate “AICore” and select the entry.
- Tap “Disable” and confirm by selecting “Disable app” in the new window.
- Subsequently, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and choose “Uninstall updates” to fully free up the occupied storage.
Re-enable AICore
If you find that you miss any of the disabled features, you can easily reverse your decision. Simply navigate back to Settings → Apps → AICore and tap “Enable.” AICore will automatically download updates and reinstate all AI features.
Conversely, to maximize the AI features of your Pixel device, discover 6 incredible capabilities you may not be aware of.
This article was originally published on our affiliated site PC-WELT and has been translated and adapted from German for a WordPress autoblog.