‘DirecTV AI Screensaver’ Leaves Prospects Shocked and Offended
*DirecTV customers are calling foul over a controversial new characteristic quietly rolling out to its Gemini streaming gadgets. The AI-powered screensaver, developed with ad-tech agency Look, creates customized adverts utilizing digital avatars of customers.
Through the use of voice instructions, viewers can generate an avatar of themselves, which then seems in idle display content material—alongside focused product suggestions. However many customers say the expertise feels invasive and unnatural.
‘Uncanny Valley’ and Creepy Advertisements Gasoline Outrage
The backlash started with a Reddit submit that shortly gained traction. One commenter summed up the temper: “I might sooner return to dwelling within the Stone Age than settle for this.”
Critics argue the AI avatar screensaver crosses the road, turning private likenesses into advert instruments. Social media customers have likened it to deepfakes, calling it unsettling and “company overreach.”
DirecTV Claims It’s About ‘Good Personalization’
The corporate has defended the transfer as a part of a broader AI-commerce push. Based on DirecTV, the characteristic enhances content material discovery with added instruments like real-time climate and sports activities updates.
However with DirecTV bleeding subscribers in recent times, critics suspect that is simply one other try to spice up advert income—on the expense of consumer consolation and privateness.
Can You Decide Out? It’s Not So Easy
As of January 2026, the characteristic is both rolling out or already dwell on some Gemini gadgets. Whereas DirecTV suggests there are opt-out settings, early studies point out it might be troublesome to completely disable the screensaver advert operate.
Customers on the lookout for options are contemplating switching to providers with lighter advert masses, similar to YouTube TV, or utilizing free platforms with fewer monitoring instruments.
DirecTV Joins a Sample of AI Advert Backlash
This isn’t the primary time AI adverts have triggered controversy. In current months, different manufacturers confronted comparable blowback:
McDonald’s AI Christmas advert (2025) was pulled after being labeled “soulless.”
Coca-Cola’s AI truck advert confronted uncanny valley criticism for lifeless visuals.
Meta’s Benefit+ AI created weird auto-ads—like an “AI granny”—with out consent.
LG added Microsoft Copilot to good TVs, with no simple removing choice.
The frequent thread? Shoppers are rejecting AI that feels manipulative, creepy, or inescapable.
Why This AI Screensaver Controversy Issues
The backlash in opposition to the DirecTV AI screensaver underscores broader issues about digital privateness, consent, and the way far corporations ought to go to monetize their platforms.
With AI evolving quick and ad-tech getting bolder, prospects are pushing again in opposition to instruments that flip passive experiences—like a screensaver—into data-driven gross sales machines.
What Customers Can Do Now
When you’re a DirecTV Gemini consumer, test your gadget settings to see if the AI screensaver is energetic. Search for opt-out choices, although they might be buried or restricted.
You too can file suggestions on to DirecTV and discover ad-free or lower-ad options. Shopper strain, as seen in previous circumstances, typically leads corporations to stroll again invasive options.
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