Automatically play ads when stream is static
Make it an option to play ads while your stream is static (meaning the streamer is not at the computer) This would be a great way for streamers to remove pre-rolls without sacrificing any content for the viewers watching.
How it would work: Twitch detects a static screen in a channel with the settings enabled. It then sends out a 30 second ad (Configurable by the streamer) The streamer comes back with a happy audience and with pre-rolls disabled for newcomers.
I'm no developer but I'm sure there's a drop in bitrate used whenever the screen is static, there's also no microphone output when the streamer is AFK.
I understand this feature will need a lot of fine-tuning but I think there is a demand for this from creators. I know for a fact streamers care about removing pre-rolls but sometimes it's hard to remember to run them during natural breaks in your stream.
Automating ads is pretty handy but automating non-intrusive ads is a win/win situation for everyone.

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Trizze commented
An option could be to work with OBS for an implementation there. It would be easier for OBS to detect if you're at the computer or not since it knows where your webcam is located and can hear your microphone output separately from the rest of the audio.