Brief
DIY AI Projects Strip Smart TVs of Bloatware and Ads
Open‑source AI launchers let users bypass menus, remove unwanted packages and stop pre‑roll ads on smart televisions.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Gizmodo reports that hobbyists are employing artificial‑intelligence‑based launchers to strip modern smart TVs of excess software, ads and potential spyware, effectively returning the devices to a more basic, "dumb" state.
What happened
Developers have released open‑source projects such as dumbtv and CleanYourTV that create custom launchers for smart televisions. These launchers bypass the manufacturers' default interfaces, allowing users to launch only the apps they choose and hide or remove unwanted inputs. One contributor to CleanYourTV said he removed 25 Xiaomi packages and wrote new code after his parents' TV displayed a sponsored ad before reaching Netflix.
What the reports add
Gizmodo notes that the AI models behind these launchers, referenced as "Claude et al," can be assembled relatively easily, enabling users to customize the TV experience without deep programming knowledge. The article also mentions a broader trend of reverse‑engineering consumer devices, citing a separate piece about AI‑driven hacks of Lululemon mirrors.
What was said
The author of the dumbtv project wrote, "Your TV should do what you paid for, your apps, your HDMI inputs, and nothing else," as quoted by Gizmodo. The CleanYourTV developer explained his motivation: "It was showing a sponsored ad before you could even get to Netflix."
How it came about
Frustration with the growing bloatware, intrusive advertising and hidden tracking features on smart TVs has driven a community of makers to create AI‑assisted tools that revert devices to a simpler state. This mirrors earlier DIY trends in consumer electronics, where users repurpose or simplify devices to regain control over functionality.
Key facts
- Open‑source AI launchers like dumbtv let users bypass smart TV menus and run only selected apps. (gizmodo.com)
- CleanYourTV's developer removed 25 Xiaomi packages and added custom code to stop pre‑roll ads. (gizmodo.com)
- AI models referenced as Claude et al are used to build these launchers, according to Gizmodo. (gizmodo.com)
Sources
- [1] gizmodo.com — originally reported as “People Using AI to Make Smart TVs Dumb Again Is the Most 2026 Thing Ever”
