New Open-Source Tool Allows macOS Users to Remove 12GB of Apple Intelligence Data

If you’re looking to free up some storage on your Mac, you might want to consider using a new open-source command line tool called RemoveMacAI to eliminate Apple’s AI features. Previously, there was a straightforward toggle in Settings to disable Apple Intelligence, but that option was removed in macOS 27. Now, the AI models linger on your disk, scattered across various settings.

As noted by some users, the developer of RemoveMacAI shared on a forum that this tool effectively replicates the old toggle’s functionality by removing the models and disabling the features. The developer explained:

> You have to locate about a dozen settings, with several hidden under Screen Time. Even if everything appears off, the foundational models still occupy around 12 GB on your disk. I created RemoveMacAI to streamline the process. It disables Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, the ChatGPT extension, and all summaries, then it deletes the models and prevents macOS from redownloading them.

According to the developer, these changes remain intact even after macOS updates, and Dictation will continue to function. There’s also a command, “removemacai revert,” that allows you to restore everything and enable the AI models to download again if you decide to switch back.

The developer estimates that Apple’s AI models consume “about 12GB” of space, but some users have reported even higher usage in comments. For instance, on my MacBook Air, Apple Intelligence is shown to take up 35.05GB, which I discovered by checking my storage in the Settings app and clicking the “i” icon next to “macOS.” Additionally, RemoveMacAI includes a “removemacai status” command that displays the size of each individual AI model on your Mac.