No, smartphones cannot read our minds. The phenomenon you described, where you see ads related to things you have only thought about in your mind without searching for them on the internet or speaking about them, is likely a result of targeted advertising and data tracking.
Modern smartphones and internet-connected devices collect vast amounts of data about users' online activities, interests, and preferences. This data is then used by advertising platforms and companies to create personalized profiles of users. Through complex algorithms and machine learning, these platforms can predict users' interests and show them targeted ads based on their online behavior.
The process by which you see ads related to your thoughts might have happened in the following ways:
Search History: Even if you haven't explicitly searched for something, your online activities, such as browsing history or social media interactions, can still provide information about your interests and preferences.
Social Media Interactions: Social media platforms collect data about the content you engage with, like, share, or comment on. This information helps create a profile of your interests.
Voice Assistant Listening: If you use voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant, they may listen for specific trigger words to activate. Although they are not constantly recording, any interactions you have with the voice assistant can be used to improve their performance and, in some cases, may influence ad targeting.
Metadata Analysis: Smartphone apps and services can collect metadata, such as location data, which can provide clues about your interests and habits.
Behavioral Patterns: Advertisers can use data to recognize patterns in consumer behavior, making educated guesses about what products or services you might be interested in.
It's important to note that while this form of targeted advertising can feel invasive or like smartphones are reading our minds, the data collection is typically anonymized and aggregated, meaning that advertisers don't have access to your personal identity. They use this data to deliver more relevant ads to specific groups of users but not to read individual minds.
If you are concerned about privacy and targeted advertising, you can take steps to limit data collection, such as adjusting privacy settings on your smartphone, clearing your browsing history, and being mindful of the permissions you grant to apps.