If you bought a Mac with the smallest storage option to save money, Apple’s latest update makes that decision considerably harder to live with. After installing macOS 27, Apple’s new AI components automatically download and occupy significant disk space — often more than 20GB on many machines and reportedly up to around 30GB on some systems — with no way to prevent the download.
This is especially troubling because Apple’s least expensive Macs ship with relatively little storage to begin with. The new Mac mini still starts with just 256GB of internal storage, and losing roughly 20–30GB to system-level AI files effectively removes around 8–12% of that capacity before you store a single photo, app, or document. On top of that, the usable capacity of any drive is already lower than the advertised capacity, since space is consumed by the operating system and preinstalled system files.
Apple Took Away the Off Switch
With macOS 27, Apple changed how its AI assets are deployed. The update automatically downloads Apple’s intelligence files the next time the Mac connects to the internet. Previous macOS releases allowed users to avoid or decline large optional downloads, but Apple has removed that choice for these AI files: you don’t have to enable or use the AI features, but your system still has to make room for them.
Apple’s own support documentation states that the company’s AI components require up to 14GB on newer machines and up to 8GB on older devices. Real-world reports suggest those numbers may be conservative. Independent checks and user reports have shown larger footprints: for example, some users have observed roughly 20–22GB used on a Mac mini or MacBook Air after the update, and others have reported even greater usage approaching 30GB on certain configurations.
Cheap Storage Just Got Harder to Justify
Many buyers choose base-level storage because Apple’s official storage upgrades are expensive. On current models, moving from 256GB to 512GB can add a substantial premium, and higher capacities carry even larger price jumps. For buyers who planned to save money by purchasing the entry-level SSD and rely on cloud or external storage for some files, the mandatory AI files make that strategy less viable.
Compounding the problem, many modern Macs have storage soldered or permanently attached inside the machine, preventing straightforward upgrades later. That means if you find yourself short on space after an update, you can’t simply swap in a larger internal drive; your only options are to pay for a model with more built-in capacity at purchase, rely on external drives, or use cloud storage more aggressively.
The timing of this change is notable. Apple has adjusted pricing and component sourcing in recent years, and those shifts have already affected the effective value of base configurations. For shoppers comparing models, the automatic AI download makes it prudent to reconsider how much internal storage you buy up front. Opting for a larger SSD at the time of purchase can be more cost-effective than trying to cope with constrained storage later.
If you are in the market for a new Mac, consider the practical storage you will actually have after the operating system and mandatory components are installed. Factor in the additional space now required for Apple’s AI files and whether your workflow can tolerate a reduced usable capacity. For many users, spending more on storage at purchase will provide a smoother experience and reduce the risk of running out of space for apps, photos, and updates.
In short, macOS 27’s automatic AI downloads quietly reduce the usable storage on affected Macs. Because the download is mandatory and internal storage is often non-upgradeable, buyers should plan ahead and consider choosing more internal storage than they might have assumed was necessary.