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Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

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Re: Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

#261

Post by tomrod »

conception wrote: post #82
jacobgold wrote: post #77

Someone who has spent $100M+ on Google Ads explained to me that Google is doing everything possible to juice their revenue right now, in ways they've never seen before. Seems like two things 1) Google is losing at AI and Sundar wants to mask this 2) AI is going to destroy their ad business and they want to get while the getting is good.

I think the 3.8 Flash release shows they are doing just fine at AI. Unlike OpenAI and Anthropomorphic, Google doesn’t have to release new models to capture VC sentiment every three months. They have the hardware, data and money. And when they release a model it’s very good. Now their product strategy however…

I think Google's big bet (and Microsoft's before them) is in centralization of AI services, hosted using their model, and that AI at the edge will always be a bit player.

But what I see and hear from technical consumers, businesses, and govts is that they would prefer their data stay local, and like the idea of edge compute being used for AI.

Claude/OpenAI's direction with their Apps enabling deeper integration is a good direction, but the trust with data is still a growing concern. OpenAI's math actions on the NS problem degrades their reputation a lot.

Re: Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

#262

Post by BLKNSLVR »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #224
stillpointlab wrote: post #45

I don't think it is fair to pin this on Google - I get the worst ads on X. But something about how the X ad network works means that even when I report the ad, block the ad poster, etc. there is this army of alternate ad accounts that all show the same ad. I was feeling very guilty last night as I was watching YouTube and getting 30s+ unskippable ad blocks every 10 minutes in some video. And the repetition and low qu…

I was feeling very guilty last night as I was watching YouTube and getting 30s+ unskippable ad blocks every 10 minutes in some video. And the repetition and low quality were grating on me. I thought: being rich is never having to watch another ad You don't have to be rich to avoid getting those ads. You can make them go away for ~$15 a month. If you can't afford that, you have bigger problems in your life than YouTub…

Yeah, but that also says to Google that their methods are successful. That makes my skin crawl.

Re: Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

#263

Post by BLKNSLVR »

kentonv wrote: post #178

Here's another one for you. If you search for any popular book on Google Play Books, you get a whole bunch of fake knock-offs alongside the real book. Sometimes, it is nearly impossible to tell which one is real. And they, apparently, won't do anything about it. A couple months ago I went searching for the book "Regime Change" by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, an NYT bestseller. The top search result at the time…

> "Abort the author"

Shame that was untrue.

> What I don't get is why haven't they shut it down

Likely just because it's profitable enough. If nothing else, that seems to be the #1 guiding principle.

Re: Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

#264

Post by BLKNSLVR »

ArcHound wrote: post #15

Man, Google is catching strays from all directions. I recently posted an article about their bot behaviour [0], only to be drowned in other more pressing issues. To comment on this one: as long as there is no backlash from their real customers (those that buy ads) nothing will change. [0] https://blog.miloslavhomer.cz/how-google-sees-your-site/

This one isn't a stray. This is multiple sources actively and accurately directing their shots.

Re: Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

#265

Post by redbluething »

bmandale wrote: post #188
guelo wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is the scummy adsense ads don't hurt Google's reputation. Outside the techie crowd people don't know the ads are from Google.

It doesn't practically matter whether the ads are from google. They're shown on a third party site, not using google won't get rid of them, only not using that site will (or installing an adblocker...). Users very reasonably blame the site, who have direct agency to remove the ads.

Agree it's reasonable. I removed the ads :P

Re: Why is Google still serving dodgy ads?

#267

Post by ambione »

google once served me an ad for what I'm pretty sure was CP, and i never reported it to anyone out of fear that just by being served a link to that kind of horrible shit I was somehow going to get in trouble over it. Sounds ridiculous, but as a nobody, pissing off a giga-corporation in an era owned by them probably was the better choice for my financial and overall well-being, even if it felt cowardly. Besides, epstein's guests roam free, unimpeded, and continue with impunity, what positive outcome could I have possibly hoped for?
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