Samsung TVs use AI to record audio and screenshots for targeted ads, researcher says
A cybersecurity researcher known as log4j live‑tweeted a series of discoveries after reverse‑engineering the Tizen operating system on a 2025 Samsung TV. They say the TV runs an on‑device AI that logs detailed telemetry, records audio, captures screenshots, and creates a cross‑device tracking ID to improve ad targeting. The researcher also identified a region‑specific convolutional neural…
Key points
- Researcher log4j reverse‑engineered Samsung’s Tizen OS and found AI that logs audio, takes screenshots, and tracks user behavior for ads.
- A region‑specific convolutional neural network on the TV monitors video progress, ad skips, and cross‑device IDs to improve ad targeting.
- Hugging Face engineer ngxson observed the TV opened its microphone for five seconds, then stopped, noting a rooted test TV may differ from stock units.
Hugging Face engineer ngxson tested the microphone on a rooted TV and observed it opened for five seconds before stopping, noting that an unmodified unit might behave differently. Log4j used OpenAI tools for local reverse engineering and later received an account ban, which they attribute to a “primitive classifier.” The article adds that other brands such as LG have also faced accusations of spying on customers, and many owners report slowed performance that could stem from this hidden processing.
The researcher plans to publish a full write‑up detailing how others could replicate the analysis, highlighting broader concerns about AI‑driven privacy breaches in consumer electronics.
Cybersecurity bounty hunter says Samsung TVs use AI to record audio and screenshots for ads
Tom's Hardware · 25 October 2026
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