Developers are using AI to strip smart TVs of ads and bloatware, with over 3,000 users adopting the trend in just two days. The latest trend involves using AI-powered tools to customize and simplify smart TV interfaces, removing unwanted features and ads.
These tools are gaining traction as users grow frustrated with the intrusive advertising and data collection practices of modern smart TVs.
The 'dumbtv' project, developed by Muzammil Yasin Sabuwala, has been tested on multiple TV platforms including Fire TV, Sony, TCL, and Xiaomi.
The solution allows users to remove bloatware, replace the launcher with a custom interface, and eliminate ads without requiring root access to the TV. This makes the process accessible to a wider audience, as it can be done over Wi-Fi.
"I had Claude Code clean it up over Wi-Fi and build a simple home screen with just their apps on it," said Gathin T., the creator of 'cleanyourtv.' He noted that after posting his before-and-after results on GitHub, thousands of users followed suit, applying the same process to their own TVs.
The project has since expanded to support multiple TV brands, including LG and Philips.
The 'cleanyourtv' and 'dumbtv' solutions leverage AI models such as Deepseek V4.1 Flash, Claude Opus 5.5, and Claude Sonnet 5.5 to automate the customization process. Users can point their preferred AI agent at the dumbtv repository on GitHub to initiate the changes.
These tools are part of a growing trend where AI is being used to reclaim control over smart devices.
However, the solutions are still works in progress, with some users reporting issues such as AI agents making mistakes or bricking their devices. Despite these challenges, the trend highlights a growing demand for more control over smart TV interfaces.
As the creator of 'cleanyourtv' noted, the idea to clean up the smart TV interface started one afternoon when he got tired of seeing ads on his parents' TV.
Source: techcrunch
