Summary
Overview
In this WAN Show episode, Linus announces he's finally adopting ad blocking after years of resistance, driven by websites that are now 100% ads with zero content visible. The hosts discuss the tension between content creators and advertisers, OpenAI's new ads in ChatGPT, Microsoft's repeated dark patterns, and various tech industry developments including Tesla's Roadster 2, NVIDIA's underwhelming RTX Spark launch, and the rise of AI-generated music flooding streaming platforms.
The Breaking Point: Linus Finally Adopts Ad Blocking
After over a decade of stubbornly refusing to use ad blockers, Linus reaches his limit when encountering web pages that display zero content and only advertisements. He shows examples from PC Gamer and other sites where four ads fill the screen with no article visible. While acknowledging this is technically piracy, he explains that when websites cross the threshold of being completely unusable, he has no choice but to protect his ability to consume content.
- Linus encountered PC Gamer articles where the screen showed four ads and zero content, making the site completely unusable
- He's starting with Pi-hole and will continue paying for YouTube Premium to support creators
- Malvertising has become a serious security concern, with Citizen Lab confirming targeted ads delivered Kandiru spyware to Al Jazeera devices
- The threshold was crossed when ads became literally 100% of the visible screen content
" I needed my bread to be at least 51% bread. It can't be 51% or more sawdust. I accepted 51% or more. It just had to be at least 1% beans. I needed one bean in the plate of diarrhea, and I accepted it. That was my line, Luke. And they crossed it. "
" My whole page cannot be ads. Will you do... How are you going to configure things? Well, see, that's the thing. Me not blocking ads is not some kind of lack of technical acumen, you know? "
OpenAI Launches Ads in ChatGPT Despite Previous Promises
OpenAI begins rolling out advertisements in ChatGPT, directly contradicting Sam Altman's previous statements that ads would be an absolute last resort. The hosts receive AI-generated emails inviting LTT Store to advertise in ChatGPT, with the service promising to help brands enter users' decision-making processes earlier. Despite philosophical objections, Linus admits he'll probably explore the platform because it will likely be highly effective, similar to Reddit ads.
- OpenAI sent an AI-written email to LTT Store inviting them to advertise in ChatGPT's early rollout
- The email was obviously AI-generated with generic phrasing like 'tech audiences often begin with the setup problem they want to solve'
- Ads in ChatGPT will likely be extremely effective because users are actively engaged and expressing intent
- The service is already live at ads.openai.com despite previous promises that ads were a last resort
" Reach people in moments that matter. That's practically like that's practically the motto of like the funeral industry you know it's like it's like find the most opportune possible moment and squeeze them. "
" I bet this is going to work really, really, really, really well. Oh yeah, absolutely. It'll go extremely hard. People will scream about it and they'll be super upset and they'll click on the ads and they'll buy the stuff. "
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