If you’ve been browsing the internet lately, you might have stumbled upon a bizarre 30-second video that has been causing quite a stir. Dubbed “Synthetic Summer,” this peculiar beer commercial has taken the web by storm, leaving viewers both tickled and horrified, and scratching their heads in confusion.
Created by London-based production company Private Island, the ad went viral within moments of its release, quickly spreading like wildfire across social media platforms.
The video starts innocently enough, with the catchy tune of “All Star” by Smash Mouth playing in the background. You’re transported to a lively backyard party, complete with people mingling, a roaring barbecue, and an abundance of beer cans.
However, it doesn’t take long to realize that something is seriously amiss. The partygoers are seen conversing with floating beer cans, laughing in a jaw-droppingly unnatural manner, and engaging in inexplicable actions. Strangely, everyone has anywhere from four to a staggering fourteen fingers.
To top it off, plumes of flames erupt from unexpected sources, and by the end, chaos reigns as the Smash Mouth CD skips and everything is engulfed in fire. Needless to say, this is one party invitation you’d gladly decline.
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This AI-generated beer commercial quickly gained notoriety alongside another bizarre creation by the same company, a commercial for a fake pizza place called “Pepperoni Hug Spot.”
Together, these videos have amassed millions of views on platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and TikTok, leaving thousands of viewers both amused and horrified. Some even compared the experience to a nightmarish acid trip or drew parallels to the eerie vibe of Soundgarden’s iconic music video, “Black Hole Sun.”
Chris Boyle, co-founder of Private Island, explained that the company’s penchant for creating unusual commercials for various brands led them to explore the possibilities of AI-generated content. Boyle and his team of animators embraced AI tools like Runway Gen2, Stable Diffusion, and ModelScope to bring their mind-bending vision to life.
Drawing inspiration from American TV commercials and focusing on the aesthetics of alcoholic beverage advertisements, they pushed the boundaries of visual weirdness.
While the video has garnered attention for its strangeness, it has also sparked discussions about the intersection of humanity and artificial intelligence. Boyle and his team aim to entertain and experiment with storytelling, delving into the evolving landscape of digital culture. Their experiments and short films aim to explore the artistic representation of emulating humanity and the impact it has on viewers.
So, whether you found the video amusing, shocking, or downright terrifying, one thing is clear: AI-generated content is taking the advertising world by storm.
Private Island plans to release more of these mind-bending videos in the future, while also continuing their work in sports, fashion, and tech commercials. As they delve deeper into the possibilities AI offers, they hope to discover new and exciting ways to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of creativity.
In the end, perhaps it’s best to remember that while you can’t fight the future, you can certainly drink it. Just make sure the beer commercials stay firmly rooted in the realm of reality – unless, of course, you’re up for a nightmarish adventure in the uncanny valley. Cheers!