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Comment by pinkmuffinere | Hacker News Reader

Ya, I got the same ad. I wonder if (1) they believe that the ad will reduce the bad-pr generated by the article, or if (2) it’s just triggering because it matches some keywords (e.g. “John Deere”). The linked page looks like it’s intended to generate good will, so I think it’s case 1. But it really comes off as tone deaf to me

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I think all those targeted ad algorithms are effectively just really dumb. Whenever you look through the comments of a YT video criticizing a product/company you are almost guaranteed to find a dozen comments saying they got an ad from that company when the video started.

But then again, what are they supposed to do when practically every corner on the internet only mentions John Deere in a negative context.

People may be even more likely to click on those ads if it will cost John Deere money.

Which are costs that John Deere will ultimately pass on to the consumer.

The point is that the ad recommendation models don’t know why people are clicking the ads, they just know people click on the ads.

We have information that you just bought an air fryer, DO YOU WANT TO BUY 10 MORE AIR FRYERS?

> all those targeted ad algorithms are effectively just really dumb.

They are. I've had a gmail account for almost 20 years. Hell, I worked for Google for 10 years. They know who I am. They've seen me search the internet and watch YT videos for effectively eons. Yet the YT ad targeting algorithm is so stupid that it apparently doesn't know that I'm male. I get pre-roll ads for feminine hygiene products and bras all the time.

BTW, ad gods: please don't make it smarter. I don't want ads. When I start to see ads, I block them. If I can't block them, I will just use the product less. How do you not know this? Or maybe that's by design...

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