The first time I watched Google’s new commercial, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a bit off. But after seeing it multiple times, I started to understand its purpose.
The commercial begins with a father discussing how much his daughter admires Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, possibly even being her number one fan. The girl wants to write a fan letter to the Olympic gold medalist and seeks her father’s assistance. Here is where the twist comes in.
The commercial is actually promoting Google’s Gemini AI, with the father asking Gemini to assist his daughter in crafting a letter expressing admiration for Sydney and mentioning her dream of breaking the athlete’s world record one day. It’s an interesting concept, using AI as a writing coach or assistant, especially for those who struggle with writing.
However, asking an AI to convey genuine inspiration seems to miss the mark. While Gemini may be generating an initial draft for the father and daughter to personalize, it could result in Sydney receiving numerous identical letters. Novelist Linda Holmes expressed her disapproval of the idea of AI-written fan letters, emphasizing the importance of children learning to write by composing their own messages.
I share Holmes’ sentiment. While I may not receive fan mail as an Olympic athlete would, even tech bloggers receive kind messages occasionally. Personally, I would prefer a short, heartfelt email from a human that simply says “YOU’RE GREAT!!” over a lengthy, AI-generated letter.
Although this may not be as extreme as Apple claiming to encapsulate all of humanity’s achievements in an iPad, it does highlight the challenges of marketing AI as a beneficial tool for everyday individuals. The essence of a fan letter is to express genuine emotions and sentiments, something that AI may struggle to capture effectively. It’s essential for individuals, especially children, to learn the art of writing and expressing themselves authentically rather than relying on AI to do it for them.
