Ars Technica reports that a command-line tool can remove Apple Intelligence from macOS 27 and free more than 12GB. That could help on Macs with small drives. The tool changes system components, so back up first and consider Apple’s own off switch.
What is Apple Intelligence on a Mac?
Apple Intelligence is the name Apple gives to the generative AI features built into its operating systems. On the Mac these include writing tools that rewrite or proofread text, summaries of notifications and messages, image generation and a more capable version of Siri. Much of the processing happens on the computer itself. It uses language and image models that macOS downloads and stores locally. More demanding requests can go to Apple’s server-based system, which the company calls Private Cloud Compute. The features only work on Macs with Apple silicon processors. What is available also depends on region, language and the version of macOS installed. The source material does not say exactly what Apple Intelligence includes in macOS 27.
Why does Apple Intelligence take up so much storage?
The AI models run on the device rather than in a data centre, so they have to be stored on the device. Language models, image models and their supporting files are large. macOS keeps them on the internal drive so the features respond quickly and work without sending every request off the machine. In earlier releases Apple set a minimum amount of free space needed to turn the features on, which suggests they take up a lot of room. Ars Technica reports that removing Apple Intelligence from macOS 27 with the new tool recovers more than 12GB. On a Mac with a large drive that may not matter much. On base models with less internal storage, it can be a large share of the space available.
What does the new command-line tool reportedly do?
According to Ars Technica, the tool runs in Terminal, removes Apple Intelligence components from macOS 27 quickly and frees more than 12GB of storage. The material available for this guide gives no further detail. It does not say:
- which files the tool deletes
- whether it needs administrator rights or changes to System Integrity Protection
- whether it is open source, or who maintains it
- whether Apple has commented on it
If you are considering the tool, read the original report and the tool’s own documentation in full. Treat instructions copied from forums or social media with caution until you can check them against those primary sources.
Can you turn Apple Intelligence off without removing it?
Yes. System Settings has an Apple Intelligence and Siri section where you can switch the features off entirely. This is the supported method. It does not change any system files, so it does not put the stability of macOS at risk. Organisations that manage Macs centrally can also restrict Apple Intelligence through device management profiles. The drawback is storage. Switching the features off stops them working, but it is not clear that it always frees all the space the models use. That gap between turning the features off and deleting them is why third-party removal tools exist. If your main concern is privacy or distraction rather than disk space, the built-in switch is usually enough.
How can you check how much space Apple Intelligence uses?
Open System Settings, choose General, then Storage, to see what is using the internal drive. Depending on the macOS version, AI models may be counted inside broad categories such as macOS or System Data rather than listed separately. That makes their exact size hard to pin down. The simplest way to measure the effect of any change is to note the free space before and after. Third-party disk analysis apps can show detail folder by folder, but some system locations are protected and may be hidden from them. macOS also frees and reuses space on its own, for example by clearing caches and local snapshots. As a result, free space can shift slightly from hour to hour whatever you do.
What are the risks of deleting system components?
Modern macOS keeps its core files on a sealed, read-only system volume protected by System Integrity Protection. A tool that removes parts of the operating system must either work in the writable areas where downloaded files are kept or ask you to switch those protections off. Turning protections off makes a Mac more exposed to malware. Deleting files that Apple expects to find can make features fail, trigger error messages or cause updates to go wrong. Running any script with administrator rights also gives it wide access to the machine, so who made the tool matters as much as what it does. The source material does not say which of these points apply to this particular tool.
How should you prepare before running a tool like this?
- Make a full backup and check that it works, for example with Time Machine on an external drive, so you can restore the Mac if something goes wrong.
- Download the tool only from the place its developer or the reporting publication names, not from mirrors or reposted copies.
- If the tool is a script, read it before you run it, or ask someone who knows shell scripting to check it. Look for commands that delete whole folders or switch off security features.
- Check whether it has a preview mode that lists what it will remove.
- Close your apps, connect the Mac to power and note your free storage, so you can confirm the result afterwards.
What happens to the removed files after a macOS update?
This is not known for the tool Ars Technica describes. In general, macOS updates can reinstall or download again any components that the system treats as standard. AI models in particular are downloaded from Apple’s servers when needed. So the space you recover now could be used up again after a minor or major update, or if you switch Apple Intelligence back on. You might need to run a removal tool again after each update. Keeping Apple Intelligence switched off in System Settings may make it less likely that the models are downloaded again. The available material does not confirm whether that fully prevents it in macOS 27.
Who is most likely to benefit from removing it?
The clearest case is someone whose Mac has little internal storage, who has no plans to use Apple Intelligence and often runs short of space. Recovering more than 12GB, the figure Ars Technica reports, may put off the need for external drives or cloud storage. Users in regions or languages where the features are not offered may also see little reason to keep the files. People who use the writing tools, summaries or the improved Siri would lose them. Work or school Macs should not be changed without approval from the IT department, which may already control these settings. For many users, simply switching the features off is the more proportionate choice.
Can you get Apple Intelligence back if you change your mind?
The source material does not say whether the tool has a restore option. If it does not, there are a few likely routes:
- switch Apple Intelligence back on in System Settings and let macOS download the models again
- wait for a system update to put back the missing components
- restore from the backup you made beforehand
As a last resort, you can reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery. This replaces the system files without erasing your data, but it takes time and needs a reliable internet connection. Before relying on any of these, check the tool’s documentation for its own instructions on undoing the removal. Keep the backup until you are sure everything works as expected.
Sources and further reading
- Ars Technica: report on a command-line tool that removes Apple Intelligence from macOS 27 and frees more than 12GB of storage
- Apple Support: documentation on turning Apple Intelligence on and off and its device requirements
- Apple Platform Security guide: background on System Integrity Protection and the signed system volume
- Apple Support: guidance on backing up a Mac with Time Machine and reinstalling macOS from Recovery
Surfaced from the rss:arstechnica signal “macOS AI removal tool”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
