But Copilot will still be built into the Tizen OS, and Samsung appears keen on pushing chatbots to TVs, including through its launch Perplexity’s first TV app. Amazon, which released Fire TVs with Alexa+ This year, we are also exploring the possibility of using chatbots in TVs.
After the backlash LG faced this week, companies may reconsider installing AI apps on people’s smart TVs. Better use of large language models in TVs may be behind-the-scenes tools to improve TV viewing. People generally don’t buy smart TVs for easy access to chatbots.
But this development is still troubling for anyone who doesn’t want an AI chatbot in their TV at all.
Some people don’t want chatbots on their TVs
Micro-integrations of generative AI that make it easier for people to do things like figure out the name of “this movie” may have a practical use, but there are reasons to be wary of TVs that use chatbots.
Chatbots add another layer of complexity to understanding how TV tracks user activity. With a chatbot involved, smart TV owners will be subject to complex smart TV privacy policies and terms of service, as well as similarly lengthy rules for third-party AI companies. This will make it difficult for people to understand the data they share with companies, and there is already serious concern about the limits smart TVs push to track users, including without consent.
Chatbots can also contribute to smart TV bloatware. Unwanted fluff, like games, shopping shortcuts, and flashy ads, actually disrupts people who just want to watch TV.
LG’s Copilot web app deserves some flack, but not necessarily because of the code that users will eventually be able to delete. The most pressing issue is the TV industry’s shift toward monetizing programming through user tracking and advertising.
If you haven’t already, now’s a good time to check out our guide to breaking free from smart TV ads and tracking.