Turn off Apple Intelligence on macOS 27 and get its disk space back (github.com)

Article summary

The article discusses a tool called RemoveMacAI that allows users to disable Apple Intelligence on macOS 27 and remove its downloaded models to free up disk space. The tool works by applying a configuration profile and removing models through Apple's asset service. The changes made by the tool are reversible, and it does not collect any data or make network requests. The tool can be installed using a one-line command or through Homebrew.

Main themes

• macOS Apple Intelligence
• script installation security
• package manager security
• software distribution risks
• convenience vs security trade-off
• trust and verification in software installation

What commenters say

• Some commenters argue that using curl to pipe and execute scripts is a security risk and should be avoided.
• Others believe that the risk is minimal if the script is from a trusted source and that it is no worse than using other package managers like npm or pip.
• A few commenters suggest that the tool could be distributed as a pre-generated mobileconfig profile instead of an executable script to improve security.
• Some argue that the focus on curl pipe security is masking deeper problems with package managers and software distribution.
• It is suggested that users should always inspect and verify the code before executing it, even if it comes from a trusted source.
• The use of curl pipe is seen as a convenience that comes with a risk, and some argue that it is not worth the potential security risks.
• Others point out that many package managers, including npm and Homebrew, can also run arbitrary scripts and are not inherently more secure.
• The discussion highlights the trade-off between convenience and security in software installation and distribution.