AI Outtakes, Vol. 14

With Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) now past, we are now at the end of the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday each have a massive impact on the economy. Here at AI Outtakes we've explored a lot of topics that generative AI does well and more than a few that it definitely does not do well. How about ads? Can generative AI create ads? Ads for products that don't exist?

**Me**: Can you come up with a list of humorous and unusual things to be advertised for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping events?

**ChatGPT**: Certainly! Creating a list of humorous and unusual items for Black Friday and Cyber Monday advertisements can add a fun twist to the usual shopping frenzy. Here are some imaginative and quirky ideas:

1. Self-Tying Shoelaces: Perfect for those who never mastered the art of shoelace tying. They magically knot themselves as soon as you put your shoes on!

2. Invisible Ink Pens: Marketed as the perfect gift for the aspiring secret agent in your family. These pens write messages that disappear after a set time, leaving no trace!

3. A Personal Raincloud: A small, portable cloud that follows you around, providing a personal rain shower. Ideal for hot days or for those who love the sound of rain.

4. Time-Traveling Alarm Clock: An alarm clock that doesn't just wake you up, it transports you back to your favorite moment in time for a few seconds every morning.

5. Portable Black Hole: Marketed as the ultimate solution for decluttering. Just toss in unwanted items, and they're gone forever!

6. Self-Walking Dog Leash: For pet owners who want to give their dogs the freedom to walk themselves. Comes with a GPS tracker and an automatic "return home" feature.

7. Gourmet Air Fryer Cookbook: A cookbook filled with recipes for cooking... air. A humorous gift for air fryer enthusiasts.

8. Telepathic Typewriter: A typewriter that types out your thoughts. No need to learn typing; just think, and it types!

9. Mood-Matching Mood Rings: Rings that don't just change color with your mood, they also provide humorous advice or comments about your current state of mind.

10. DIY UFO Kit: A do-it-yourself kit for building your own unidentified flying object. Comes with a disclaimer that it might not actually fly.

11. Solar-Powered Flashlight: For those sunny night adventures. A gag gift that highlights the irony of its own existence.

12. Anti-Gravity Paint: A can of paint that, once applied to an object, makes it float. Perfect for creating levitating home decor.

13. Eternal Ice Cream Scoop: A scoop that never melts the ice cream. Ideal for those who take their time savoring their frozen treats.

14. Portable Hole: Just like in the cartoons, a portable hole you can place on any surface to create an instant doorway or escape route.

15. Reverse Microwave: A device that cools down your food in seconds. Marketed as the perfect companion for those who always forget to take their drinks out of the freezer.

These whimsical and imaginative products would certainly make for an entertaining Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping experience!

Okay, this is certainly a list! Now let's see if AI can generate ads for these fake products.

Could you come up with a visual depiction of an advertisement for a Personal Raincloud advertised on Cyber Monday

Can you create a similar ad for Black Friday, advertising Self-Tying Shoelaces ?

What about an advertisement for 50% off of a Gourmet Air Fryer Cookbook ?

Can you make a spooky Cyber Monday ad for a Telepathic Typewriter ?

What about a cartoonish style ad for a Portable Hole

What about an ad for a pair of Mood-Matching Mood Rings - that could be worn by a couple where one person's mood matches the others?

What about a 1950s style magazine ad for a DIY UFO Kit aimed at kids? It could feature benefits like scaring the neighbors' pets, or buzzing bullies.

This is another one of those "ok, I see how you've done a good job capturing the style of a 1950s ad", unless you look closer...

Now can you make an ad for a Self-Walking Dog Leash in the style of a Sharper Image airline catalog advertisement

Hmm, this isn't really the style I had in mind.

Can you convert this to color and set it in modern times?

**Me**: Do you know what advertisements from companies like Brookstone and Sharper Image look like?

ChatGPT: Yes, advertisements from companies like Brookstone and Sharper Image have distinctive characteristics. Here are some key features:

1. Product Focus: These ads typically highlight a single product, emphasizing its unique features and technological innovations. The product is often presented in a way that showcases its design and functionality.
2. Modern and Sleek Design: The aesthetic of these advertisements is usually modern and sleek, with a clean and minimalist layout. This helps to convey a sense of sophistication and high quality.
3. High-Quality Images: The visuals are high-resolution and crisp, often with the product displayed against a neutral or subtly textured background to draw the viewer's attention directly to the item.
4. Descriptive and Concise Text: The text in these ads is usually straightforward and informative, providing key details about the product's features and benefits. It aims to inform the consumer about why the product is innovative or superior to others.
5. Target Audience: These advertisements often target a more affluent and tech-savvy audience, appealing to consumers who are interested in the latest gadgets, luxury items, and innovative solutions for everyday problems.
6. Professional Tone: The overall tone of these advertisements is professional and serious, focusing on the quality and usefulness of the product rather than humor or whimsy.
7. Branding: The company's branding is typically subtle but visible, ensuring that the focus remains on the product while still making the ad recognizable as coming from Brookstone, Sharper Image, or similar companies.

These ads are designed to appeal to consumers looking for cutting-edge, high-quality products, often with a focus on convenience, luxury, and the latest technology.

**Me**: ok, given these characteristics can you make a self-walking dog leash ad in that style

Now can you generate an ad for Anti-Gravity Paint, in the style of a home improvement store newspaper insert

Can you make an advertisement for a Portable Black Hole in the style of an influencer's social media post

All in all, AI did a decent job with these! It clearly knows a bunch of advertising styles, although I don't think it's in danger of putting creatives out of a job quite yet.

Until next week!

okay, now can you create an ad for a self-waving hand? The ad should feature a house with several of them in the front yard, waving goodbye