AI video commercials are starting to spread, but people won't trust uncanny valley endorsements

There's a shift in the kinds of people and environments appearing in video ads that's distinctly uncanny as AI videos become far easier and cheaper to make than real commercials.

You might not pay too much attention to the videos popping up next to Reddit comments or the commercials playing on a streaming service that you don't watch often enough to justify buying the ad-free subscription. Still, the fake smiles and unrealistically beautiful homes are sometimes synthetic in a whole new way.

AI-generated ads never have to worry about actors missing a cue or a cloudy day. To the brands commissioning these ads, it might feel like a beautiful future. But anyone who actually watches the ads is more likely to feel inclined to look away than to pull out their wallet. Sure, the allure of tireless and hyper-adaptable performers and crew is appealing ...