{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/samsung-tvs-use-ai-to-record-audio-and-screenshots-for-targeted-ads-re","json":"https://digestai.news/story/samsung-tvs-use-ai-to-record-audio-and-screenshots-for-targeted-ads-re.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/samsung-tvs-use-ai-to-record-audio-and-screenshots-for-targeted-ads-re.md","slug":"samsung-tvs-use-ai-to-record-audio-and-screenshots-for-targeted-ads-re","headline":"Samsung TVs use AI to record audio and screenshots for targeted ads, researcher says","summary":"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 network that monitors video progress, ad skips, and user behavior.\n\nHugging 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.\n\nThe 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.","keyPoints":["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."],"whyItMatters":"Embedding AI-driven telemetry in consumer TVs raises privacy concerns, shows how ad networks can exploit on‑device models, and may prompt regulators and users to demand stronger data protections.","category":{"slug":"society","name":"Society & Work","url":"https://digestai.news/category/society"},"entities":{"companies":["Samsung","LG","OpenAI","Hugging Face"],"models":[],"people":["log4j","ngxson","Jhet Borja"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-25T10:00:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T10:00:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"Tom's Hardware","title":"Cybersecurity bounty hunter says Samsung TVs use AI to record audio and screenshots for ads","url":"https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/hacker-finds-own-samsung-tv-collecting-scary-amounts-of-user-information-and-gets-banned-by-openai-for-cyber-abuse-tv-runs-an-ai-model-that-collects-audio-screenshots-and-plenty-of-other-user-data-for-ad-targeting","publishedAt":"2026-10-25T10:00:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Samsung TVs use AI to record audio and screenshots for targeted ads, researcher says\", 25 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/samsung-tvs-use-ai-to-record-audio-and-screenshots-for-targeted-ads-re","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Samsung TVs use AI to record audio and screenshots for targeted ads, researcher says","datePublished":"2026-10-25T10:00:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/samsung-tvs-use-ai-to-record-audio-and-screenshots-for-targeted-ads-re"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}