From AI-generated cruise ads to YouTube fan parodies, brands (and unofficial creators) are leaning hard into generative content. Recent hot examples include a parody video pitting Netflix against Paramount in a fictional “Streaming Bowl”—complete with Harry Potter, Superman, and a stadium’s worth of IP cameos. Posted by creator Muhannad Nassar, the spot has racked up 89,000 YouTube views and highlights just how believable, and viral, AI-generated entertainment can be—even when it’s pure satire.
Meanwhile, Viant Technology is pushing more than rhymes with its AI-powered “diss track.” Built with ChatGPT, Grok, and Sumo, the musical spot doubles as promo for Viant’s new Lattice Brain product—a platform using large language models to optimize programmatic ad buying. According to Viant’s CEO, Lattice Brain campaigns are delivering stronger results and dropping CPAs versus traditionally human-run ones. Over at CES, other players like Magnite, Yahoo, and Disney also debuted new “agentic” AI tools, showing just how far ad tech is leaning into machine-led planning.
On the production side, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines claims it cut ad costs by 70% and sped up timelines by 5x using what they dub a hybrid AI-human team. Their new spot features a digitized cruise ship and was produced by Blunt House and Nmatic.ai. This joins a growing fleet (pun intended) of travel brands testing generative tech—like Virgin Voyages’ past collab with Google and Holland America’s regional AI Super Bowl ad. With Google, Amazon, Walmart, and even Miro getting in on AI-mode ad products and creativity tools, human creatives still have the edge—for now.
Full story at AdAge.