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.
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, formulaic ads just fine on their own. But when brands fail to grab attention and stand out, they risk spending more for less impact.
This one’s for every Chief Audio Officer navigating the promise and peril of generative AI because making more ads faster doesn’t mean making better ads.
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.
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