Google's AI search summaries officially have ads

(theverge.com)

15 points | by jmsflknr a day ago ago

11 comments

  • drawkward a day ago ago

    Advertising is a virus that will eventually infect all ecosystems.

    • water-your-self a day ago ago

      Advertising should be illegal.

      • appendix-rock a day ago ago

        This is hilarious. You’re using Y Combinator’s advertising and propaganda board as we speak.

        • drawkward 21 hours ago ago

          Maybe some of the people who come here are those most in need of the message?

      • blackeyeblitzar a day ago ago

        Wouldn’t this have serious negative consequences? For example, no new companies or products could find customers. Although I do wonder if there’s something to your suggestion. Maybe it is that we need to limit the ability of really powerful companies to abuse advertising in some way. Curious if you have any Ideas that are not a total ban.

        • cwassert a day ago ago

          (Independent) product reviews.

          • appendix-rock a day ago ago

            And how do the reviewers find out about products? Please give these things more than a second of thought before saying them.

            • drawkward 21 hours ago ago

              Retailers? You know, when they want to find out about products. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    • add-sub-mul-div a day ago ago

      What's a bigger deal is how it's qualitatively evolving. Commercial breaks on cable that you could trivially skip with a DVR are now becoming unskippable on streaming.

      The really dangerous thing is the inevitable seamless and undisclosed blending of sponsored content into generative output. It will be just another one of those things that's technically illegal but obfuscated enough for tech companies to get away with.

      • drawkward a day ago ago

        Whenever there is a HN story about obtrusuve or unexpected advertising, I make the comment I made. Recently, someone responded by mentioning that their home security system (Abode) now has a required subscription if you dont want advertising in the app one would use to interact with their security devices at home! (Eventually, Abode or whoever buys Abode will want more revenue and even the paid subscribers will get ads.)

  • jasonvorhe 16 hours ago ago

    Meanwhile, at Kagi and Brave I can pay and not worry about any of it without having to accept annual price hikes like Google is doing with their YouTube Premium subscription.