While AI-generated advertising can give you quick, data-driven insights or develop designs on the fly, they often lack the subtlety you can only get with human interaction, which can leave campaigns feeling impersonal or disjointed. To design effective ads<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to first know about the benefits and drawbacks of using AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With so many options, you might wonder: how is AI used in advertising actually going to help your team increase sales or gain leads? There are a few ways, and most of them boil down to automating tasks so you can free up your team\u2019s creativity. Take a look at a few of the most valuable ways you can harness AI without negatively affecting your brand\u2019s image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Developing ads no longer has to take days. With only a little input, AI tools can generate ad visuals, copy, or even video content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Need to tweak just five words of ad copy because you don\u2019t think it fits the tone? Google Gemini can give you 10 iterations of what you wrote to help you find what sticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How about a quick banner ad that helps you stand out in a super-crowded digital space? With AI, you have solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re comfortable, you can use software like DALL-E 3 or Adobe Firefly to create your entire ad\u2014from brainstorming and development to final design\u2014in a fraction of the time. More on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no doubt about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Programmatic advertising can analyze past campaign performance, audience behavior, and market trends to predict which strategies are most likely to succeed. And it can do it with precision, speed, and ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what is programmatic advertising? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The quick rundown is that it\u2019s a way to use technology to automate the buying, selling, and delivery of advertisements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s already shaping up to be the most effective way to target audiences. Just take a look at how Statista was referenced by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA)<\/a>, which highlighted that globally, programmatic advertising is increasing year over year. In North America alone, programmatic ad spend in 2024 reached a whopping 264 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By leveraging predictive analytics, AI identifies winning ad combinations\u2014things like the best copy or visuals\u2014for specific audiences based on time or location. Programmatic advertising is also especially helpful when paired with out-of-home (OOH) ads<\/a>, as it allows businesses to deliver highly relevant ads at the right time and location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to target commuters at 5 o\u2019clock rush hour? Need to capture attention during peak vacation season?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Programmatic advertising can do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve probably used LLMs like ChatGPT or Jasper at some point or know someone who has. AI copywriting tools are becoming more prolific, and they can easily take the tedium out of writing simple or repetitive things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are some need-to-knows: LLMs don\u2019t possess the nuance it takes to write about highly complex or deeply specialized subjects (don\u2019t expect it to be able to complete a client request containing sensitive information, calculate your taxes for you with pinpoint accuracy, or develop a 100-page research paper on gene therapy the week before your dissertation is due\u2014it\u2019s just not happening).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bottom line?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The time it takes to check through inaccuracies, verify that the content matches your unique brand voice, and even just sounds<\/em> human for more complex topics will take longer than it would if you simply wrote the content yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proofreading is one of those tasks that can feel tedious but makes all the difference. Thankfully, AI tools can take care of it for you by helping you polish your documents quickly and effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, Grammarly, a popular writing assistant tool, utilizes AI, which helps users refine grammar, tone, and clarity in real time. It also provides weekly insights, like highlighting the top tones used, common mistakes made, and overall writing productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Google Docs even has its own built-in AI-powered proofreading tools as well, but to access these features, your team will need to have Workspace Labs enabled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tools like these are great for improving a team\u2019s quality of writing and efficiency because they offer extensive user insight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While AI has changed some aspects of advertising for the better, it\u2019s far from perfect. Among regurgitating content seen across the internet, there\u2019s a litany of things to look out for, like data privacy risks and inaccuracies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a powerful tool, but it requires human oversight to ensure that campaigns not only stay authentic and effective but also ethical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many instances where AI can be plain wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, they\u2019re prone to \u201challucinations<\/a>,\u201d which are responses produced by artificial intelligence models in which the content might sound completely plausible but is instead factually incorrect. And, in some cases, so wildly inaccurate that its hallucinations can be deadly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you might be able to prompt engineer ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or DALL-E 3 to give you results that seem <\/em>curated, it usually isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nor is it by coincidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Large language models are trained by vast amounts of data from sources to learn patterns, associations, and structures within human language. While AI software can produce content at a speed no human can match, it comes at a steep cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, the content AI produces\u2014be it copywriting, images, or even entire videos\u2014 isn\u2019t really unique but rather a recombination of information that already exists somewhere online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feeding AI sensitive data can be dangerous, not just for the overall integrity of your business but for the safety of your customers and their privacy. Similar challenges arise with programmatic advertising, which relies on algorithms to analyze data but can face blind spots like biases and even potential security breaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re wary about using AI to analyze data at every point, one of the best ways to make certain your brand stands out in a sea of literally thousands of other brands (maybe even just in your local area) is to take the time to really get to know your customers<\/a>. This is where AI falls short, as building genuine connections and gathering firsthand insights can provide the context that AI alone cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think lengthy threads on X about your product, Instagram comments, or even direct messages from customers sharing their experiences. These authentic interactions are things that AI can\u2019t replicate, meaning AI can\u2019t get a proper picture of how to market to your audience every single time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to remember that AI can still play a valuable role in supporting your marketing efforts by identifying trends and generating insights that might otherwise take your team far longer to uncover; however, there\u2019s a delicate balance at play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your target audience has seen the graphic design before, or if it relies on overused stock images, your brand runs the risk of being seen as inauthentic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or worse? <\/p>\n\n\n\n You lose a long-time consumer of your products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s critical to create a marketing plan<\/a> that prioritizes originality and really reflects your brand\u2019s unique identity. If your ads feel like they\u2019re too \u201ctemplated\u201d or lack a personal touch, consumers might question if you\u2019re really in tune with their needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even the most technically perfect ad has the potential to fall flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marketing and advertising have been an arena for controversy since their inception. Controversial ads<\/a> can cause us to feel morally conflicted, confused, and downright turned off. From media considered to be blasphemous to sexually explicit material to provocative political messages, there are tons of ways to strike a cord with the public. While some business execs might cling to the old adage ‘all press is good press’, there’s no doubt that crossing a line can tarnish your brand’s reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI has introduced entirely new reasons to feel uncomfortable. Here are a couple examples that generated buzz online and exposed some polarizing opinions about the role of AI in advertising and society at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Love it, hate it, or feel indifferently toward it, ChatGPT has become a major player in information-seeking, online chatting, and for some…camaraderie. People are now turning to ChatGPT as a substitute for Google, favoring its directness and simple interface to the sea of competition on today’s search results pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OpenAI launched a series of billboards promoting ChatGPT. The images varied from a depressed woman in bed surrounded by half-eaten takeout to people trying to fix a car and in another ad, a tractor. The images are overlaid simply with “ChatGPT,” insinuating that ChatGPT can serve as a therapist and mechanic respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n not sure i understand the vision behind this one pic.twitter.com\/j1dM3Ms6WL<\/a><\/p>— typedfemale (@typedfemale) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> Table of contents<\/h4>
Benefits of Using AI for Advertising<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You Can Use AI to Create Entire Ads (That Actually Land)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/www.alluvitmedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mohamed-nohassi-2iUrK025cec-unsplash-1024x631.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nProgrammatic Advertising Can Predict What Works Best<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It Can Be Helpful for Writing About Simple or Repetitive Topics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.alluvitmedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-googledeepmind-18069697-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s Useful For Quickly Proofreading Documents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Drawbacks of Using AI for Advertising<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It Can Be Completely Inaccurate and \u201cHallucinate\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXcPmr6Wtzy29LE06vDvsQzRMZMNYurV4S0jEOhI3_6z8gjoHcLqgS3WXs9fQOx1GVr1Ytg-0BFvyH55o34bn1G2oKDOi4iubfS8rcRkfy5M7Burd2EPwLO2taSX4dtbJ1X6nlB4xw?key=VqoE-E2IThAj-Ro-YJLX4kop\")
The Content it Produces Isn\u2019t Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It Can\u2019t Always Safely Access User Data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your Advertisement May Feel Less Genuine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.alluvitmedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mistake-1966448_1280-1024x655.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAI Advertising Controversies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
ChatGPT billboard: what’s the message here?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n