AI advertising: A new dawn or end of the day for trust?

What is the image an ad for? A Maserati luxury car. Nope, guess again. No, this is just annoying.

Okay, here's the deal. The creators of this piece do stress that it's not?an ad?for Maserati. They are also very clear that it is artificial intelligence (AI) - generated. However, they would love to work with brands like Maserati, they acknowledge.

Making it an ad for themselves, right?

Hype and reality in Dataland

It's not new to be wondering whether generative AI signals the end of advertising creativity. But there are no easy answers.

The thought thrown up by this piece of work is more about how both luxury brands and consumers will respond over time to the ultimate mash-up that AI can deliver, and how AI 'creativity' will be perceived.

On the same day that this ad caught our eye, The Guardian reported that AI artist?Refik Anadol aims to open the world's first AI art museum?- Dataland - in Los Angeles next year.

AI thought leader Richard Foster-Fletcher (MKAI.org) answers the question whether gen-Ai is over-hyped or a bubble, like this:

"The hype around generative AI is connected to its practical applications and the proficiency of its users. Unlike trends like the metaverse, generative AI tools provide immediate, tangible benefits. However, the effectiveness of AI depends heavily on user skill and the ability to adapt processes to integrate these tools. [....] Proper AI integration requires robust data management and a clear understanding of AI’s capabilities."

While the need to adapt to AI looks inevitable, the tech does not stack up well on an environmental level. Alarming reports on the damage/drain caused by data centres?creates?another dilemma for the advertising sector (and others) as it strives to align with sustainability concerns.

"From a sustainability perspective, providing free AI services that consume vast amounts of energy is challenging," says?Foster-Fletcher.

Meantime, on the privacy side

The Register reported that LinkedIn has "started harvesting user-generated content to train its AI without asking for permission, angering netizens".

Users in the EU, the UK, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are not among those whose data is being used in this way, and won't be for the foreseeable future.

Others need to go to Settings if they wish to opt out -? though apparently with no retroactive result.

Setting trust amid dawning realisation?

ENDS

For more thought-provoking content and contextualisations of today's issues, head to ADDS at Addvertising.org.