Generative AI is opening new possibilities for hyper-personalized advertising, including the ability to create AI-generated faces that closely resemble individual consumers. But how similar is too similar? This Journal of Advertising Research study finds that while moderate facial resemblance can improve advertising effectiveness, excessive similarity may backfire. The research introduces a new framework for measuring facial similarity and identifies an optimal personalization threshold that maximizes purchase intentions while avoiding consumer discomfort and resistance.
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An academic paper in the JAR confirms that older consumers (50+) respond better to ads with rational rather than emotional appeals. It rejects conclusions based on Socioemotional Selectivity theory.
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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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Why do some ads get shared more than others on social media? This study used facial coding algorithms to quantify the facial expressions of thousands of individuals in response to video ads. The findings help advertisers predict how different emotions influence sharing, and provide a deeper understanding of the complexities between emotion and transmission.
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