Creative & Branded Content

Too Much of a Good Thing? How Personalization in AI-Generated Ads Affects Consumer Attitudes

  • ARF
  • JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

AI-generated advertising promises scalable personalization—but how much is too much? This study explores how different levels of personalization in AI-generated ads influence consumer attitudes. Through a series of experiments, the authors identify an inverted U-shaped effect: while moderate personalization enhances ad effectiveness, excessive tailoring can lead to consumer discomfort, triggering concerns about manipulation and privacy. The findings provide timely guidance for marketers navigating the trade-offs of hyper-personalized messaging in the age of generative AI.

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Harmony or Discord? Exploring the Impact of Generative AI on Human Creativity in Advertising

  • ARF
  • JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

With generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney rapidly entering the advertising toolkit, the creative landscape is shifting. This study explores how advertising professionals perceive and use these technologies, where friction arises and what the future of human-AI collaboration in advertising might look like. Drawing on qualitative interviews and industry surveys, the paper offers a nuanced view of both enthusiasm and anxiety within the creative community—and sets a research agenda for the field.

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Human-Plus: A Future of Advertising to Algorithms

  • ARF
  • AI Series

On January 16, we kicked off our AI Series while exploring what AI means for consumers, advertisers, and the rapidly evolving marketplace. Attendees gained access to new research, perspectives, and practical guidance for staying ahead. Panelists dove into actionable strategies for the future of shopping and unveiled Kantar’s groundbreaking “Human-Plus” framework — a human-centric perspective on AI that anticipates consumer needs, marketing opportunities and investment strategies.

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Native Ads: Best Practices for Creative

  • David Ludica, Senior Director, Strategic Insights & Research, Yahoo!

Forecasts show that native is expected to be 74% of total digital ad spending by 2021. A joint Nielsen-Yahoo! study yielded a list of ten best practices for native ads’ creative, such as the importance of images and logos, the need for transparency via labeling, and using shorter video lengths.

What Drives Ad Blocking - and How to Confront It

  • Barbara Leflein, Leflein Associates, Inc.; Asaf Davidov, Hulu

The growth of ad blocking demands that marketers understand its prevalence and drivers. This study by Hulu and Leflien Associates yielded a surprising finding: ad receptivity is psychological, not demographic. It also identifies factors that drive ad engagement, such as the ability to exercise control over ads.

How to Leverage Online and Offline Chats to Boost Sales

  • Koen Pauwels, Ph.D. – Marketing Professor at Northeastern University, Ed Keller – CEO at Engagement Labs

While online social media listening often gets more attention, offline word-of-mouth also produces a major contribution to sales. What different roles do they play? How does their contribution differ by category? How can the two be best managed together? A study of 21 brands across five categories provides seven findings that brands can use to advantage.

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ARF ORIGINAL RESEARCH - How Ad Creative Can Benefit from Context Effects

  • Duane Varan; Horace Stripp; Steve Bellman - THE ARF ORIGINAL RESEARCH
  • Media Science; The ARF; Ehrenberg-Bass

Yes, context does matter in how advertising communicates, according to neuroscience studies conducted as part of the ARF’s “How Advertising Works” project. In examining the impact of humorous, fear-inducing, and sentimental programs, the studies yielded surprising and valuable findings such as this: sentimental ads may benefit from context alignment, boosting both memory and ad liking.

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