iPhone and Android users are reporting that disabling local AI features, such as Apple Intelligence and Google’s AICore, can potentially reclaim several gigabytes of internal storage space.

Key Points

• Reddit users claim disabling Apple Intelligence on iOS 18 beta can free up to 21GB of storage by removing local AI models and photo indexes.
• Android devices, including Google Pixels, utilize AICore and Gemini Nano models that occupy significant internal storage for on-device processing.
• Storage gains may be temporary, as iOS and Android systems often rebalance caches or re-download necessary assets after initial deletion.
• Disabling these features permanently disables specific functions like offline smart replies, advanced image recognition, and local generative AI tools.
• Users can manage these settings via the Privacy & Security menu on iOS or the Apps management section on Android devices.

Why it Matters

As smartphone manufacturers increasingly shift toward on-device AI, the storage footprint of these models is becoming a significant factor for users with limited capacity. Understanding how to manage these background assets allows users to prioritize either advanced AI functionality or available space for personal files and applications.