The AI Creative Revolution in Action
In case you missed it, Popeyes and McDonald’s are currently in the middle of a food fight. It started as a simple competition with their menus, but then the AI creators got involved. Now it’s turned into an AI-generated video snack (w)rap war. There are a few AI-generated McDonald’s videos. But here’s Popeye’s latest jab against McDonald’s:
https://youtu.be/V8dU3ZMxugg?si=OENtz3YiqmN6CwgG
Five Guys, Burger King, In-N-Out, and Wendy’s hilariously got caught in the crossfire, but that’s besides the point. The broader implications extend far beyond fast food marketing.
Screenshots of the Five Guys and Wendy’s AI-generated videos (via Noah Wagner, Gabe Micahel)
Using AI technology, any creator, including broadcasters, can quickly and affordably generate high-quality video content for themselves or an advertiser. While media leaders applaud this visual creative ability, AI is also simultaneously devaluing broadcast ad inventory in campaign planning. This algorithmic bias masquerades as data-driven decision-making, quietly erasing broadcast media from the planning processes that determine where advertising dollars get spent.
The Dual Disruption: Production And Planning
The first disruption is visible and celebrated. Brands are discovering they can create professional-quality content without the traditional expensive infrastructure of agencies, studios and production teams. According to IAB’s 2025 Digital Video Ad Spend & Strategy report, 86% of advertisers plan to use AI to create ads. This creative democratization has fundamentally altered the economics of advertising production.
PJ Ace, who created Popeye’s AI diss track against McDonald’s, also produced the AI-generated