A new open-source command line tool called RemoveMacAI gives Mac users a more direct way to disable Apple Intelligence and reclaim disk space used by local AI models. The tool is aimed at a specific problem: macOS no longer offers one simple Apple Intelligence switch in the same way it once did.
According to the source article, the single Settings toggle for disabling Apple Intelligence was removed in macOS 27. The result is a more scattered setup, where related features live across different settings panes while the AI models can remain stored on the Mac.
What RemoveMacAI Does
RemoveMacAI is designed to switch off Apple’s AI features, delete the AI models already stored on the machine, and prevent macOS from downloading those models again. In practical terms, it tries to recreate the convenience of the old one-step Apple Intelligence control, but from the command line.
The developer described the problem as a mix of storage use and settings complexity. In a Reddit post cited by the source article, the developer said users have to find about a dozen settings, with several of them under Screen Time. Even after switching everything off manually, the foundation models remain on disk.
The tool targets a broad set of Apple Intelligence-related features. Based on the developer’s description, RemoveMacAI turns off Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, the ChatGPT extension, and summaries. It then removes the models and blocks them from being downloaded again.
That combination matters because disabling visible features and removing local data are not the same action. A user may not want AI writing tools, image generation, summaries, or integrations active, but the underlying models can still occupy storage. RemoveMacAI is presented as a way to handle both sides at once.
Why Storage Is The Main Issue
The developer says Apple’s AI models take up “about 12GB” of space. For many Macs, that is a noticeable amount of storage, especially if the user does not use Apple Intelligence features or is trying to free space without deleting personal files.
The source article also notes that the number may be higher for some users. On one MacBook Air, Apple Intelligence was listed as using 35.05GB of space. That figure was found by opening storage in the Settings app and clicking the “i” icon beside “macOS.”
Those two numbers show why the tool is getting attention. The issue is not only whether Apple Intelligence is enabled. It is also whether local AI files remain on the disk after a user has tried to turn related features off.
RemoveMacAI includes a status command for users who want more detail before or after making changes. The command “removemacai status” can show the size of each individual AI model on the Mac. That gives users a clearer view of what is actually taking space, rather than relying only on a single storage category in Settings.
macOS Settings Became More Fragmented
The source article frames RemoveMacAI as a response to a change in macOS. There used to be one Settings toggle for disabling Apple Intelligence, but that control was removed in macOS 27. Apple Intelligence features are now split across different settings panes.
That creates friction for users who want a clean opt-out. Instead of flipping one switch, they may need to look across several places in Settings, including Screen Time. The developer’s explanation suggests that even this manual process does not remove the models themselves.
For users who are comfortable with the command line, RemoveMacAI compresses that process into one tool. It is not described as a graphical app. It is a command line utility, which means it is likely aimed at users who are willing to run terminal commands to manage system behavior.
The tool also includes a path back. The developer says there is a “removemacai revert” command that can turn everything back on and allow the AI models to download again if the user changes their mind. That reversibility is important because Apple Intelligence includes multiple features, and some users may later decide they want them restored.
What Stays And What Changes
RemoveMacAI is described as making several changes at once. It disables Apple Intelligence-related features, removes local model files, and blocks future model downloads. The developer also claims the changes persist across macOS updates.
The source article includes one notable exception: the developer says Dictation will still work. That detail matters because users may worry that removing AI-related components could affect broader input features. Based only on the source article, Dictation is not presented as being disabled by RemoveMacAI.
The key functions described in the source are:
- Turning off Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, the ChatGPT extension, and summaries.
- Deleting Apple Intelligence AI models stored on the Mac.
- Stopping macOS from downloading those models again.
- Showing model sizes with “removemacai status”.
- Restoring Apple Intelligence behavior with “removemacai revert”.
The larger takeaway is straightforward: Apple Intelligence can use meaningful local storage, and the controls for disabling its features are no longer concentrated in one place. RemoveMacAI exists to make that opt-out more complete for users who are comfortable using a command line tool.
For Mac owners who use Apple Intelligence, the storage tradeoff may be acceptable. For those who do not use the features, a tool that deletes the models and blocks re-downloads offers a more decisive option than searching through settings panes and leaving the files behind.