You work in advertising, you absolutely do not have any moral high ground over AI shit.
I don't work in advertising, I advertise. I have a business, I need to find customers where they are. I don't shove it down their throat, I fulfill a need. I don't care what you think about this. How the fuck do you think people who employ you make money?
You're just as responsible as AI for the downstream effects of advertising like constant surveillance and what you call "personalization". No, it's not true that people "don't really mind" ads if they're interested in your product. People hate ads, they hate you, and you have no idea how much of a stain on society people you'll be seen as after yet another 5 years of this shit. Even seeing the word "curate" makes me want to smash your head into the cement.
You're really mad, I understand, but I think that you have no fucking idea what you're talking about in a practical way.
If we don't talk about the huge ones like FB, Booking, Google, most advertisers don't know shit about you as an individual. You're in a list where an algo works out how to serve you stuff you will buy depending on your behavior on the platform. A platform you are using for free.
You think companies would run ads if people did not convert? Are you brain damaged or something?
What exactly am I supposed to do? Advertise on the radio or hand out flyers?
How do you think companies make money exactly in this day and age?
You like shitting on people who advertise, fairplay. Now, what's the best way to go about this, please tell me? How does a company make enough money to pay your ass?