OzoneAI Lets Users Sell Data Directly to Advertisers
A new startup named OzoneAI allows users to bypass major tech companies and sell their personal data directly to advertisers for cash. The company takes a 30% cut from businesses while promising users more control over their digital information.
A new startup named OzoneAI offers a system where users sell their personal data directly to advertisers instead of giving it away to web giants for free. The company makes its public debut at Disrupt SF with a platform that lets businesses bypass major advertising networks like Google and Facebook to buy anonymized user data. Through a dedicated app, users grant companies access to specific information like Spotify playlists or Amazon wish lists and receive direct payment in return.
The founders, who previously work for Google, say their goal is to find a happy medium between protecting user privacy and allowing data monetization. They emphasize that users decide exactly how much of their activity they want to sell, noting that while a user's identity remains anonymous, the specific data points—such as watching a movie five times—are not. A machine learning engine processes this information to match user activity with relevant businesses and services.
OzoneAI generates revenue by taking a 30% cut from the businesses that subscribe to a user's data, which the founders claim still provides better value than traditional advertising methods. However, the startup faces skepticism from true privacy advocates who use ad-blockers and are unlikely to let advertisers access their data under any circumstances. Critics also question whether the platform truly promotes privacy or simply motivates users to sacrifice their information for a quick profit.