Google’s “Planning a Quick Getaway?” ad was done entirely with AI
A turkey named Tom is the main character of Google’s “Planning a Quick Getaway?” ad. The toylike plush animal uses AI Mode in Google Search to find a way to escape from his farm to a place where people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanks to the results served by Google’s AI on a generic Android phone, Tom the turkey successfully finds a flight that takes him to a safe place with a pool.The new spot is part of the “Just Ask Google” campaign, and it’ll air on television starting today. The company told the Wall Street Journal the video will be on digital media and in movie theaters starting Saturday. There’s also a Christmas-themed sequel coming.
Google doesn’t think the ad needs an AI label
No uncanny valley here
Like it or not, it’s inevitable to start seeing more AI-generated ads, which means human artists may get fewer job opportunities. On the other hand, I don’t think Google would make the same video if it had to pay for the “old-school” process of creating such an ad. I agree with Robert Wong that most people won’t care if an ad is AI-generated, though. For them, the most important thing is that the ad is fun and it doesn’t look awkward. Generating a cartoon-like turkey is a safe way to stay out of the uncanny valley, even if it raises moral questions.
