This fall, you’ll start seeing ads in places that used to be ad-free. Three things make this possible: screens that can change what they show instantly, cars that get software updates over the internet, and AI chatbots that understand what you want in your own words. Many of these platforms know more about you than a billboard ever could.

• McDonald’s has started running ads from other companies on its drive-thru order boards, hoping to build a $1 billion ad business. For now, the ads appear on the drive-thru screen after you’ve placed your order. McDonald’s is following Walmart and Amazon into what the industry calls “commerce media.”

• Your chatbot now has sponsors, too. OpenAI’s ads in ChatGPT are already bringing in money at a pace of $1 billion a year. What’s different here is that a chatbot knows what you’re asking in your own words. Cars are getting in on it as well. In August, BMW put a Spider-Man movie promotion on dashboard screens in more than 70 countries, and it popped up when drivers started their cars. Jeep owners have gotten pop-up offers on their infotainment screens, and Apple now sells ads in Apple Maps search results in the U.S. and Canada.

• Streaming video is changing, too. Peacock Premium Plus will show “limited ads, promos, and sponsor messages.” HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu ad-free plan swill now show ads during “select live” content. And don’t forget smart refrigerators. Samsung added ads to smart fridges that cost around $2,000, through a software update after people had bought them.