No, smartphones cannot read your mind. The phenomenon you are describing, where you see ads related to things you have only thought about without searching or speaking about them, is likely the result of targeted advertising and data analysis.
Here's how it typically works:
Data Collection: Smartphones and other devices collect various types of data about users, including browsing history, app usage, location data, and more. Many apps and services request permissions to access this data to improve user experiences and deliver personalized content.
Data Analysis: Companies use sophisticated algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze the collected data and create user profiles. These profiles include information about your preferences, interests, online behavior, and other data points that help advertisers understand your habits better.
Targeted Advertising: Advertisers use these user profiles to target specific groups of people who are more likely to be interested in their products or services. When advertisers run ad campaigns, they can choose to target individuals who match certain criteria, such as age, location, interests, or past behavior.
Remarketing: In some cases, you might have interacted with related content in the past, such as visiting a website or clicking on an ad, which triggers remarketing efforts. This means the advertiser may show you ads based on your previous interactions, even if you haven't recently searched for that particular item.
So, while your smartphone is not reading your thoughts directly, it is gathering data on your online behavior and preferences. Advertisers then use this data to present you with ads that are highly relevant to you, making it seem as though the ads are reflecting your thoughts.
It's essential to be aware of the data collection practices of the apps and services you use and adjust your privacy settings accordingly if you are concerned about your information being used for targeted advertising. Many platforms provide options to opt-out of personalized advertising or limit data collection to some extent.