Hacker reverse engineers his Samsung TV and finds on-device AI listening for your dog and baby, watching what you watch, and borrowing your soundbar's mic if the TV doesn't have one. Then OpenAI banned him for reverse-engineering it.
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My mention of the best option was specifically in response to the question "can the disconnected tv's use open wifi, amazon sidewalk or whatever means to invade your privacy. Since they don't appear to properly turn off microphones, i wouldn't be surprised to see them not turning off wifi. TBH, i don't think they're trying to use other gateways to get out, but the only sure way would be to romp through the unprotected OS.
What you desire is quite doable, though it has caveats.
If you want to watch Jellyfin and play disks, you can use a slightly beefier SBC and run OpenElec with Kodi. There are some remote projects out there where you don't need a full keyboard to use it.
If you want Netflix/Hulu/D+ bullshit, you're better off getting a cheap walmart ONN stick, root it and gut it down to whatever you really need https://xdaforums.com/t/root-guide-walmart-onn-4k-streaming-stick-2026-google-tv-wayne-rtd1325-root-with-magisk.4794208/