Smart TV owners frustrated with invasive ads, sluggish interfaces, and constant data tracking are increasingly turning to open-source software and AI tools to customize their devices. Rather than accepting the bloated experiences manufacturers impose, users are taking matters into their own hands by installing alternative systems that strip away surveillance and advertising.
Popular solutions include Cleanyourtv, tv-detox, and dumbtv—open-source projects designed for Android TV and Google TV devices, including models from TCL, Hisense, and Sony, as well as older Amazon Fire TV hardware. These tools remove ad networks and tracking mechanisms, resulting in faster performance and a cleaner interface.
Some users have gone further, leveraging Claude Code to build entirely custom interfaces tailored to their preferences. One creative example includes a Pokémon-inspired TV interface—demonstrating how combining AI assistance with open-source principles enables users to shape their viewing experience from the ground up rather than accepting defaults.