The short version: While everyone was debating whether AI would change advertising, it already did. Meta's planning to automate everything by 2026, the market hit $47.32 billion, and honestly? Some of the results are mind-blowing while others are... well, let's just say there's a reason Toys R Us got roasted online.
Generative AI has officially moved from "cool experiment" to "business necessity" in advertising. With Meta planning full automation by 2026 and the AI marketing market hitting $47.32 billion, we're witnessing the biggest shift in how ads are created, targeted, and optimized since the internet itself. But here's the thing – it's not all smooth sailing.
Last Tuesday, I got schooled by a machine.
Three months ago, I watched an AI system create a better ad campaign in 15 minutes than my team could produce in two weeks. That's when I knew everything had changed. Not "will change" or "might change"—had already changed.
Last week, I watched a small business owner upload a single product photo and walk away. Twenty minutes later, she had a complete ad campaign running across three platforms—copy written, visuals created, audience targeted, budget optimized. She didn't write a single word or choose a single demographic. Welcome to advertising in 2025, where generative AI has quietly become the invisible creative director behind nearly every ad you see.
Here's what nobody saw coming: while we were all debating whether AI would replace copywriters, it quietly became the invisible hand behind nearly every ad you see. By June 2025, generative AI isn't just helping with advertising—it's running the show. And honestly? Most consumers have no idea.