A developer has built a command-line tool that lets Mac users strip Apple Intelligence out of macOS 27 in one command, freeing up to 12GB of storage — and the creator insists it can be undone later.
The tool, called RemoveMacAI, was created by Om Lahore, who posts on GitHub. It targets the version of macOS that ships with Apple Intelligence built in, which removed the toggle that earlier versions offered for disabling AI features. Instead of giving users a switch, macOS 27 simply runs the AI models behind Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, the ChatGPT extension and the summaries, taking up space on disk whether anyone uses them or not.
Lahore said on Reddit, where MacRumors first spotted the post, that the tool turns off those features and deletes the underlying models, stopping macOS from downloading them again. He also noted that dictation still works separately, so users who rely on speech-to-text don’t lose that entirely.
What the Tool Does
RemoveMacAI is a command-line tool, which means it runs from the terminal rather than through a menu. That puts it outside the reach of casual users who might prefer a button in System Preferences. For developers or power users comfortable with the command line, though, the trade-off is small.
The developer said the tool is fully reversible, which matters if someone changes their mind later. The Verge noted that Apple’s Intelligence models take up about 12GB, though they can actually take up over 30GB in some cases.
| Feature | Status After Running RemoveMacAI |
|---|---|
| Siri | Off |
| Writing Tools | Off |
| Genmoji | Off |
| Image Playground | Off |
| ChatGPT extension | Off |
| Summaries | Off |
| Models | Deleted |
| Dictation | Still works |
Why the Toggle Vanished
Earlier versions of macOS let users turn off AI features with a single switch. macOS 27 no longer offers that option.
That change means the AI models sit on disk whether users want them or not. Even if someone goes through settings to disable individual features, the models themselves remain installed. They take up space on the disk, and they keep taking it up until the user takes action.
The developer framed the problem directly in their Reddit post: the models necessary for running Apple Intelligence will take up space on your disk, even if you don’t use them or if you go through your settings to individually find and disable AI capabilities.
The Reversible Claim
Lahore described the tool as fully reversible. That is the central promise of the project, and it distinguishes RemoveMacAI from other tools that might delete files without offering a way back.
The developer’s description on Reddit made clear that the tool does not simply disable features but also deletes the models and stops macOS from downloading them again. That combination — turning off the features, deleting the models and blocking future downloads — is what sets this tool apart from a simple toggle.
What We Make of It
The existence of RemoveMacAI is a quiet statement about how Apple builds its operating system. When Apple chooses to hide a feature rather than expose it to users, developers respond by exposing it anyway. This tool is the latest example of that pattern.
What is notable here is the scale of the change. Removing a toggle is one thing. Removing a toggle and leaving the models installed, unmanaged and unmarked, is another. The developer’s tool closes that gap, but only for users who know how to open a terminal.
The irony is that the tool exists at all because Apple chose to bury the toggle. A company that built the world’s most popular personal computing platform has now produced a situation where a third-party developer is the one offering users control over their own machine.
The tool is available on GitHub, where Om Lahore posted it. Users who want to try it should proceed with caution, as with any command-line tool that deletes files. But the promise of a fully reversible process means the risk is lower than it could have been.
For now, the tool remains a niche solution. It answers a question Apple itself chose not to answer: how to stop using Apple Intelligence without keeping the models around.
The Verge noted that the models can take up over 30GB in some cases, which suggests the 12GB figure cited by the developer may not account for every possible installation. That is worth keeping in mind for anyone considering the trade-off between convenience and disk space.
The tool is a small piece of software with a large effect. It removes Apple Intelligence from macOS 27, frees up nearly 12GB of storage and does it in a way that can be undone later. That is a useful trick, and it is the kind of thing the command line does best: it lets you do something macOS 27 does not provide a toggle for.
Source material: “Command-line tool quickly removes Apple Intelligence from macOS 27,” Ars Technica.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.