Meta’s feel-good AI ad sparks skepticism with apocalyptic soundtrack.
The clip features the **1972 David Bowie track “Five Years,”** which includes lyrics like “Earth was really dying.” On **Thursday morning, Meta published an ad** to its official Instagram account, aiming to reassure viewers that artificial intelligence won’t isolate or leave them behind. The ad’s message seems jarringly out of sync with the song’s dire, end-of-the-world tone.
Meta’s new ad appears to be part of a broader effort to rebrand AI and make it seem more accessible and benevolent. This isn’t the first time Meta has used a song about disaster or decline to sell its vision of AI-driven utopia. In 2022, the company used a cover of the song “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails in a promotional video for its Meta AI platform.
But what message are Meta’s ads actually sending?
The ad’s use of “Five Years” – a song that’s all about the impending doom of the world – might seem like a baffling choice, but it actually highlights a deeper issue with Meta’s messaging. By presenting AI as a panacea that will bring people together, Meta is ignoring the very real concerns about the potential consequences of widespread AI adoption. What happens when robots or AI systems start to make decisions that put humans at odds with one another? Can we really trust them to have our best interests at heart?
Meta’s ad is a prime example of what happens when a company’s PR machine gets ahead of its technology.
What this means: Don’t be fooled by feel-good ads; the truth about AI’s impact on human relationships is still unclear. As the adage goes, a picture (or in this case, a 1972 rock song) is worth a thousand words – but not always the words you want to hear.
