AI and The Battle For Our Privacy - SM Pods Episode 1

In this episode of the SM Pods, we break down the growing tension around trust, privacy, and platform control in modern AI.

We discuss Anthropic’s decision to keep Claude ad-free, OpenAI’s testing of ads in ChatGPT, and what these different business models mean for user trust. We also explore the rise of “agentic” AI with GPT-5.3 Codex, and what happens when AI systems can operate tools and software autonomously.

From privacy concerns and collective data rights to Microsoft scaling back its “AI everywhere” strategy in Windows, we examine what decisions are being made with regards to AI

Then we shift to Linux and the quiet platform shift underway: Linux 7.0, Zorin OS migration from Windows users, and how SteamOS is redefining what a desktop experience should look like.

Sources Used For Reference

Batt, Simon. “Microsoft’s Backing off on Its “AI Everywhere” Plan Is Too Little, Too Late.” XDA, 11 Feb. 2026, www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-backing-off-its-ai-everywhere-plan-is-too-little-too-late/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Bonifield, Stevie. “Linux 6.19 Arrives with a Teaser for Linux 7.0.” The Verge, 9 Feb. 2026, www.theverge.com/tech/875784/linux-kernel-7-0-announced. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

“Claude Is a Space to Think | Anthropic.” Anthropic.com, 2026, www.anthropic.com/news/claude-is-a-space-to-think. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

“Introducing GPT-5.3-Codex.” Openai.com, 5 Feb. 2026, openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-3-codex/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Singh, Samarveer. “SteamOS Proved the Linux Desktop Doesn’t Need to Look like Windows to Succeed.” XDA, 24 Jan. 2026, www.xda-developers.com/steamos-proved-the-linux-desktop-doesnt-need-to-look-like-windows-to-succeed/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

“Testing Ads in ChatGPT.” Openai.com, 13 Feb. 2026, openai.com/index/testing-ads-in-chatgpt/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Stanford.edu, 2019, hai.stanford.edu/news/privacy-ai-era-how-do-we-protect-our-personal-information. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.