From Svedka to Anthropic, brands make bold plays with AI in Super Bowl ads
From dancing robots to founder feuds, AI stole the show in this year's biggest ads.
Deep Dive
The 2026 Super Bowl ads highlighted AI's dual role as a creative tool and a product star. Svedka's spot was primarily AI-generated, taking four months to train models for robot movements. Anthropic's ad mocked OpenAI's plans for ads, sparking a public feud between the companies. Meta promoted its AI-powered smart glasses. This heavy reliance on AI in high-stakes advertising fuels the ongoing debate about its impact on creative jobs.
Why It Matters
AI's starring role in mass-market ads signals its move from a niche tool to a mainstream cultural force.