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A.I. Slop
Manage episode 478512550 series 3521459
In this episode of Ad Infinitum, host Stew Redwine is joined by commercial director Jordan Brady and Amplifi Media CEO and NYU professor Steven Goldstein to confront a fast-growing threat in the world of advertising: AI Slop.
Used by Steven in a blog post earlier this year, “AI Slop” refers to the dull, generic content flooding our feeds—fueled by AI tools used without intention or craft. This episode pulls back the curtain on how these tools are transforming creative work—for better and worse.
With the rise of “invisible minivans” (not Lamborghinis), Stew and his guests dig into how AI is flattening creativity, the steep cost of sounding like everyone else, and what marketers need to do to protect emotional resonance and brand authenticity in audio.
You’ll hear:
🤖 What “AI Slop” is—and how to spot it in the wild
💸 Why boring ads are the most expensive kind to make
🎙️ How the human touch is disappearing from podcast ads
🧠 When AI is helpful—and when it becomes a creative shortcut
📉 What happens when audio loses its nuance, and how to fight back
Stew, Jordan, and Steven put four of the top commercial radio ads through the Ad Infinitum wringer—grading each on persuasion, production, and sonic distinctiveness:
- Progressive: A 10-second “riddle” spot that lacked flair and fell flat—proof that brevity doesn’t guarantee brilliance.
- Verizon: A $50/month deal with an attempt at a clever hook (“cheaper than your dog’s glam squad”) and zero memorability.
- AT&T: A 60-second travel-themed ad that waited 46 seconds to mention the brand. Result? $155K in wasted media dollars.
- Cricket: The surprise winner. With early branding, relatable benefits, and lively sonic branding, it scored highest across the board—an example of simple, effective, human-sounding creative.
The verdict? You don’t need AI to sound robotic—humans are making boring, formu
Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AICan't keep up with AI? We've got you. Everyday AI helps you keep up and get ahead.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Scale Faster with The Growth Hack
Growth marketing tips & tech insights from those who’ve done it.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.
Chapters
1. A.I. Slop (00:00:00)
2. [Ad] Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AI (00:17:25)
3. (Cont.) A.I. Slop (00:18:13)
4. [Ad] Scale Faster with The Growth Hack (00:34:33)
5. (Cont.) A.I. Slop (00:34:59)
28 episodes
Manage episode 478512550 series 3521459
In this episode of Ad Infinitum, host Stew Redwine is joined by commercial director Jordan Brady and Amplifi Media CEO and NYU professor Steven Goldstein to confront a fast-growing threat in the world of advertising: AI Slop.
Used by Steven in a blog post earlier this year, “AI Slop” refers to the dull, generic content flooding our feeds—fueled by AI tools used without intention or craft. This episode pulls back the curtain on how these tools are transforming creative work—for better and worse.
With the rise of “invisible minivans” (not Lamborghinis), Stew and his guests dig into how AI is flattening creativity, the steep cost of sounding like everyone else, and what marketers need to do to protect emotional resonance and brand authenticity in audio.
You’ll hear:
🤖 What “AI Slop” is—and how to spot it in the wild
💸 Why boring ads are the most expensive kind to make
🎙️ How the human touch is disappearing from podcast ads
🧠 When AI is helpful—and when it becomes a creative shortcut
📉 What happens when audio loses its nuance, and how to fight back
Stew, Jordan, and Steven put four of the top commercial radio ads through the Ad Infinitum wringer—grading each on persuasion, production, and sonic distinctiveness:
- Progressive: A 10-second “riddle” spot that lacked flair and fell flat—proof that brevity doesn’t guarantee brilliance.
- Verizon: A $50/month deal with an attempt at a clever hook (“cheaper than your dog’s glam squad”) and zero memorability.
- AT&T: A 60-second travel-themed ad that waited 46 seconds to mention the brand. Result? $155K in wasted media dollars.
- Cricket: The surprise winner. With early branding, relatable benefits, and lively sonic branding, it scored highest across the board—an example of simple, effective, human-sounding creative.
The verdict? You don’t need AI to sound robotic—humans are making boring, formu
Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AICan't keep up with AI? We've got you. Everyday AI helps you keep up and get ahead.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Scale Faster with The Growth Hack
Growth marketing tips & tech insights from those who’ve done it.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.
Chapters
1. A.I. Slop (00:00:00)
2. [Ad] Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AI (00:17:25)
3. (Cont.) A.I. Slop (00:18:13)
4. [Ad] Scale Faster with The Growth Hack (00:34:33)
5. (Cont.) A.I. Slop (00:34:59)
28 episodes
All episodes
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