You’ve seen them. Ads that feel a little too perfect. The polished grammar, the eerily on-point targeting, and the robotic aftertaste that makes you wonder: was this written by a human? Chances are, it wasn’t. As AI quietly powers more of our digital experiences, it’s now scripting the very ads we scroll past or pause to watch. But here’s the catch: while AI-generated or AI-assisted ads are becoming more common, are consumers actually into them?
The answer isn’t as simple as a yes or no. It’s tangled up in trust, creativity, authenticity, and even our collective discomfort with being "sold to" by a machine. AI can whip up thousands of variations of an ad in seconds, but does volume and personalization beat the human spark? Or are we approaching a future where AI-generated marketing becomes just white noise?
The Appeal of AI in Advertising
From a marketer's perspective, AI-generated ads are a dream. They’re scalable, fast, data-driven, and increasingly polished. AI can analyze audience behaviour and generate hyper-targeted content tailored to micro-segments in real-time. This allows companies to test countless variations to see what resonates best and effectively dominate social commerce with less effort than before.
In theory, this should be great for consumers. They’re being served ads that align more closely with their needs and interests. Personalization used to mean getting an email with your first name in it. Now, it means dynamic video ads with messaging that reflects your browsing habits, preferences, and even your mood.
The promise of relevance is powerful. A well-targeted AI ad might help you discover something useful faster. It can remove friction from the purchase journey. But personalization isn’t everything and AI isn’t omnipotent. Just because an ad is for you doesn’t mean it speaks to you. As a result, there’s a growing sense that AI might know what we want, but not how we feel about it.
The Trust Barrier
Trust is where AI-generated ads often hit a wall. While many consumers accept algorithmic recommendations from Spotify or Netflix, trusting an AI to craft persuasive commercial messaging is another leap. Especially when the line between persuasive and manipulative is so thin, it’s no wonder consumers are becoming increasingly disillusioned.
Surveys show that while consumers appreciate personalized ads, they get uneasy when the targeting feels too invasive or the language too synthetic. In a 2024 Deloitte report, over 60% of respondents said they prefer human-created ads when making purchase decisions. It’s not that they dislike AI; they just want to know when it's being used, and how.
There’s also the issue of transparency. Most brands don’t disclose when an ad was AI-written. But when consumers do find out, trust can erode. It feels impersonal. And in an era where authenticity sells, that can be a deal-breaker. People don’t want to feel like they’re being "optimized."
Can AI Be Creative Enough?
This is the million-dollar question. AI can mimic creativity, but it doesn’t create from a place of emotion, experience, or cultural nuance. Sure, it can replicate tone, spit out witty copy, and mash up existing formats. But it lacks the unpredictability and emotional tension that great advertising is built on.
Consider iconic ad campaigns, the ones that linger in cultural memory. "Think Different." "Got Milk?" Even the goofy Old Spice commercials. These work not because they were A/B tested into existence, but because they sparked something unexpected. AI is amazing at optimizing, but it’s still playing catch-up in inventing.
That said, AI is getting better at faking creativity. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and most importantly Canva, can now produce ad-like assets that are not only passable but sometimes impressive. Still, most of these outputs work best when curated or edited by humans. AI can be a creative partner, but it rarely hits the mark solo.
Source: Shutterstock
The Uncanny Valley of Advertising
There’s a reason some AI ads feel off. It’s the same reason CGI humans can creep us out. When something is close to real but not quite there, our brains detect the gap. That discomfort shows up in advertising, too. You might not consciously notice the ad was AI-generated, but you feel it.
This uncanny effect is especially pronounced in industries where emotional resonance is key; think luxury, healthcare, or nonprofits. AI can pull the data to shape a compelling message, but it can't yet simulate vulnerability or lived experience. If an ad about cancer treatment or grief support sounds formulaic, people switch off.
Interestingly, some brands have started to lean into this by clearly labelling their AI-generated campaigns, treating the novelty itself as a selling point. It’s a risky move, but it can work when it feels authentic, clever, or self-aware. Consumers may forgive the lack of soul if the brand acknowledges it with a wink.
Generational Divide and Cultural Differences
While the future will undoubtedly revolve around AI, there’s already a schism. Younger audiences are far more receptive to AI-generated content than older ones. Gen Z, raised on TikTok filters and algorithmic feeds, tends to care more about relevance and speed than whether a human wrote the copy. They’re also more likely to experiment with AI themselves, so the stigma is lower.
But even among digital natives, there’s a threshold. Gen Z may tolerate AI-generated captions on Instagram, but might balk at an AI voiceover pitching mental health services. Context is everything. The more personal or sensitive the product category, the less welcome AI involvement becomes.
Geography also plays a role. In tech-forward regions like South Korea or the Nordics, AI-generated ads are often embraced as cutting-edge. In contrast, consumers in countries with lower digital trust or high media skepticism may view them as manipulative or dystopian. Brands need to localize not just language, but strategy.
What Consumers Really Want
In short, consumers don’t necessarily hate AI-generated ads, but they don’t love them blindly either. What they really want is value. If an ad is funny, inspiring, or genuinely helpful, few people care who (or what) wrote it. The issue arises when the ad is mediocre and machine-made.
Brands should stop asking if consumers want AI-generated content and start asking whether the content is any good. Is it surprising? Does it spark curiosity? Does it feel like it understands the viewer? AI can help with some of that, but it can’t replace the human instincts that create an emotional connection.
Consumers want to be seen, not scanned. Heard, not herded. The promise of AI is tempting, but the execution must be guided by empathy, not efficiency. When AI enhances human creativity rather than replacing it, that’s when the magic happens.
Source: Shutterstock
Final Thoughts
Only if they don’t feel like AI ads. Remember, people only associate. AI-generated content with slop because the overwhelming majority is, well, slop. Hence, consumers have grown more apprehensive about low-effort content that exists solely to cut down costs.
But when brands use AI to amplify human ideas, to scale personalization without sacrificing authenticity, that’s when both sides win. The goal is to impress them enough while educating them about ethical AI use at the same time.
We’re past the novelty stage. Consumers aren’t impressed that an ad was made by AI. They’re asking: does it speak to me? Does it make me laugh, cry, or click? The answer will depend less on the tech and more on the team using it. In the end, we don’t buy from algorithms; we buy from stories. And stories, even in a digital age, are still a human thing.
For the latest digital marketing news, check out our blog. To book an appointment, call 866-208-3095 or contact us here.
