Google has released its first fully AI-generated television commercial, a short animated spot titled “Planning a Quick Getaway?” The ad, produced with the company’s own generative video tool Veo 3 and other internal AI systems, centers on a plush turkey named Tom who uses Google’s AI-powered search to plan his escape from a Thanksgiving dinner table. The whimsical short follows Tom as he searches for a place “where people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving” and ultimately finds a sunny resort getaway, courtesy of Google Search results displayed on a generic Android phone.
The ad is part of Google’s “Just Ask Google” campaign and will air on television, digital platforms, and in movie theaters. A Christmas-themed sequel is reportedly in the works. While the clip is notable as Google’s first advertisement made entirely with generative AI, the company chose not to include any label disclosing that it was created using Veo 3 or other AI systems.
Robert Wong, co-founder and vice president of Google’s Creative Lab, said that the team first developed the concept traditionally and later decided to use AI tools to execute it. Wong told the Wall Street Journal that viewers “don’t really care” whether AI was involved in production as long as the ad is engaging and visually appealing.
The decision not to include an AI disclosure has already sparked some discussion within the industry. As generative tools like Veo 3 become more capable, the question of transparency around AI-created content continues to grow. Regulators and advertising watchdogs have increasingly pushed for clearer labeling of synthetic media, especially as AI-generated visuals begin to blur the line between animation and realism.
For now, Google appears to be taking a cautious but experimental approach — using AI in a playful, cartoon-like context that avoids the “uncanny valley” associated with human likenesses. The Creative Lab has previously used AI for ad concepting and creative testing but has not yet released campaigns featuring generated human figures.
The ad also highlights a broader shift in marketing production economics. Generative AI drastically reduces the cost and time required to produce high-quality visuals, meaning traditional artists, animators, and production crews may face shrinking opportunities as brands experiment with synthetic media. While Google has stated it doesn’t plan to make all of its ads with AI, this first example signals that the company is confident enough in its tools to use them in major campaigns.
Ultimately, whether viewers care that the ad is AI-generated may depend less on ethics and more on execution. In this case, a cartoon turkey plotting a clever escape offers a harmless entry point for AI-generated advertising — one that entertains without provoking discomfort.
