Google explains why AICore takes up so much space on Android

Many Android users are surprised at how much memory the system app AICore has. The application often takes up several gigabytes on the smartphone. Now there is an official explanation for the phenomenon and how the system manages storage space.

Storage hunger on Android clarified

Users of smartphones with Android 14 or higher often find that the AICore system application takes up large amounts of memory. Basically, the program manages local artificial intelligence models like Gemini Nano. In order to prevent a failure in the event of incorrect updates in the background, the operating system temporarily saves the old and new versions of the data.

This leads to a short-term but significant increase in the memory requirement on the end device. The mechanism serves as a safety net for the system. If an incorrect update is installed, the smartphone can immediately revert to the previous version. This saves users from having to re-download several gigabytes of data, which is particularly advantageous with poor or mobile internet connections. After a maximum of three days and confirmation of stable operation, the system automatically deletes the outdated files.

Local AI functions in detail

As a Support post from Google explained (via 9to5Google), AICore allows generative functions to be executed directly on hardware. Tasks include advanced proofreading functions and automatic speech recognition, spam identification and fraud detection in messages, summaries of audio recordings in the background, and intelligent reply suggestions in various messenger services. Local data processing offers concrete advantages for the data protection of end users. Sensitive information does not leave the device and is never transferred to the cloud. In addition, tools such as text summaries or intelligent replies also work without an active internet connection or in airplane mode. Local processes also eliminate delays that often occur with cloud-based services.

Despite the advantages mentioned, the architecture also has disadvantages. For mobile phones with a base memory of only 128 gigabytes, the temporary use of more than ten gigabytes can be problematic. In addition, the service continuously uses memory. Since it is a core component of the system, it is not intended to be easily uninstalled. If you absolutely need the storage space, you can simply deactivate the application in the settings and remove the updates. Although this step deletes the large data packets, it inevitably leads to the complete loss of the local evaluations. Functions such as intelligent replies will then no longer be available.