The 2026 Super Bowl commercials marked a significant shift in advertising strategies, as numerous brands leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to create engaging content and promote cutting-edge AI products. Fueled by the creative power of technology, brands explored uncharted territories as they presented cutting-edge innovation and achieved new developmental heights in the art of marketing.
One of the most memorable commercials featured Svedka. It didn’t stop there, as it stole headlines for being the first Super Bowl spot created mostly by AI in the whole country. Sazerac, Svedka’s parent company, spent about four months putting its iconic robot mascot, Fembot, back together. During that period, they simultaneously trained an AI model to mimic all of her facial expressions, body movements and more. Fembot and her new bestie, Brobot, busting a move at a rockin’ human party. Their imaginative delivery introduced an unexpected twist to the art of storytelling, leaving audiences captivated and enchanted.
Svedka and the Rise of AI in Advertising
It’s no surprise that Svedka’s groundbreaking ad was brought to life by Silverside AI. This highly skilled team you may have heard about from their viral AI-generated Coca-Cola commercials. This unique collaboration marked a larger trend of brands using AI technology to craft powerful stories that engage consumers on a deeper level. AI made the creative process both more efficient and effective. It also opened a new era of opportunities to reach consumers in ways that older, more interruptive tactics could never match.
The ability to use AI at scale in advertising has not been without controversy. One of Coca-Cola’s recent AI-generated holiday advertisements has inspired a powerful discussion about authenticity, as well as the technology’s role in creative spaces. As brands rise to the occasion and face these three hurdles, they’re fighting to find the sweet spot between innovation and consumer expectation.
“Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude.” – Anthropic’s ad
Diverse Approaches to AI Marketing
Beyond Svedka, brands made even bolder moves going all-in on AI for their Super Bowl ads. Ramp presented actor Brian Baumgartner, best known for his role as Kevin on “The Office.” That’s why the commercial featured Ramp’s all-in-one solution for simple smart automation. The ad went on to explain how, by leveraging technology, businesses are able to work more efficiently and spend time on what matters most.
Meta didn’t stop there; it even caused a stir with its ad for Oakley-branded AI glasses, safety goggles designed exclusively for sporty, extreme fun. This news continues the momentum from Meta’s breakout hit at last year’s Super Bowl. During that event, A-listers such as Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth promoted the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. By doubling down on its wearable AI technology, Meta further cements its dedication to bringing cutting-edge tools to our daily lives.
Rippling makes its Super Bowl debut, featuring comedian Tim Robinson. He took humorous aim at common HR obstacles and focused on how AI can take on these tasks automatically. This irreverent tone not only struck a chord with audiences, but showcased Rippling’s value proposition in a fun and relatable way.
Addressing Concerns and Future Directions
As brands dive deeper into using AI technology, they need to have conversations about the challenges that AI presents, too. Anthropic’s recent propaganda for its Claude chatbot provides a very funny slap-down. We love how it lampoons the idea of AI assistants becoming hype men for consumer products. In response to the “disinformation” ad, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman labeled it “obviously misleading.” He highlighted the need for the profession to continue debating the ethical implications of AI in marketing.
Additionally, the launch of Amazon’s Alexa+ was referenced in one of the commercials, showcasing how companies are now integrating advanced AI tools into everyday consumer products. A second major improvement is the use of a new AI powered tool, “MedMatch.” Its mission is to bring personalized treatment recommendations to the forefront, primarily in the mental health and wellness industries.