Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 3 hrs ago
Google Pixel AI features can use up more storage than expected
Google Pixel phones include AI features that take up storage space whether or not owners use them.
A background app called AICore, which helps other apps run AI tools on the phone, used 6.73GB on one Pixel 10 Pro.
Other apps linked to Pixel features also used storage, including Device Intelligence and Pixel Screenshots.
The Pixel 10 Pro in this example had 128GB of advertised storage, but only 96GB was available after system files and preinstalled apps were counted.
AICore first appeared with the Pixel 8 Pro, which introduced an AI model that runs on the phone without an internet connection.
Clearing AICore’s storage did not solve the problem because the app quickly used the space again.
The phone owner found no simple way to reclaim that storage, so users may need to account for it when choosing how much phone storage they need.
Google Pixel AI-related apps can take up several gigabytes of storage, according to an Android Police writer’s check of a Pixel 10 Pro.
The AICore app alone used 6.73GB on the writer’s phone.
Other apps cited included Device Intelligence at 1.06GB and Pixel Screenshots at 1.14GB.
The writer said a 128GB Pixel 10 Pro had 96GB available after accounting for system files, background apps and preinstalled apps.
Clearing AICore’s cache did not help because the app stored no data there, and its storage use quickly grew again after its storage was cleared.
- Who
- Android Police writer Jon Gilbert reported the storage use on his Google Pixel 10 Pro.
- What
- Pixel AI-related apps can reserve substantial phone storage, including 6.73GB used by AICore on Gilbert’s device.
- When
- The report was published on October 14, 2026; Gilbert said he had owned the phone for two weeks.
- Where
- On a Google Pixel 10 Pro.
- Why
- AICore updates on-device AI models and provides AI functionality to other apps. The article says the apps reserve storage whether or not users use the features.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
AICore debuted on the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which the article describes as the first phone with an AI model that runs completely on-device.
Android Police published Gilbert’s report about storage use on his Pixel 10 Pro.
- AICore storage use
- 6.73GB on Gilbert’s Pixel 10 Pro
- Device Intelligence storage use
- 1.06GB on Gilbert’s phone
- Pixel Screenshots storage use
- 1.14GB on Gilbert’s phone
- Pixel 10 Pro base storage
- 128GB
- Storage available after system and preinstalled files
- 96GB on Gilbert’s phone
What people are saying
Nobody likes paying for features they don't use.
I've tried clearing the app's storage, but it quickly climbs back up, faster if you use any AI-powered apps.