Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly emerging as a tool in the city’s marketing and advertising industry. Agencies, businesses, and entrepreneurs are turning to AI-powered platforms for content creation, advertising campaigns and social media promotion. From AI-generated models appearing on billboards to businesses using artificial intelligence to create promotional content, the technology is gradually reshaping the future of advertising. Many advertisements across the city now feature AI-generated models, which appears to be a growing trend in the advertising sector. While the technology offers speed, cost savings and accessibility, it has also raised questions about creativity, authenticity, and the future of creative professions.

 

Amit Bajpayee, founder of a city-based branding and advertising agency, said that artificial intelligence has significantly improved productivity within the industry. Earlier, advertising campaigns often required elaborate photo shoots involving models, photographers, videographers, studios and extensive editing work. AI has considerably reduced both the time and costs associated with these processes. “If the right prompt is given, the required result can be generated almost immediately,” he said. According to Bajpayee, the use of AI within his agency has enabled firms to undertake more projects rather than reducing manpower. Increased efficiency has allowed the agency to handle a larger number of campaigns and clients. Bajpayee also observed that AI has not yet matched the capabilities of professional graphic designers. While AI can help generate concepts and speed up the design process, experienced designers continue to play an important role in refining and executing creative work. However, Bajpayee cautioned against viewing

 

AI as a completely free or effortless solution. He said that high-quality AI tools often involve substantial investments, and agencies often spend considerable amounts every month on premium subscriptions. “While AI can generate ideas, content calendars and concepts, understanding whether a campaign will emotionally connect with consumers still requires human judgment. There is always a human touch which is very important, and that is what ultimately sets an advertisement apart,” he said. Sharing a similar perspective, Sanjay Arora, head of another city-based advertising and marketing agency, said that he encourages the use of artificial intelligence within his office. According to him, AI helps employees avoid grammatical and spelling errors and improves efficiency in routine tasks. Still, he believes that the best results emerge when artificial intelligence and human intelligence work together. “AI and HI, or human intelligence, must go hand in hand,” he said. Arora, who has spent decades in the advertising industry and has witnessed the transition from a pre-computer era to the digital age, said that experience and human judgment continue to play a crucial role in determining whether a campaign will succeed.

 

“Experienced professionals understand what appeals to consumers, what looks effective and what is likely to resonate with audiences -- qualities that AI cannot replicate yet,” he added. While Arora allows his staff to use AI tools, he emphasised that employees must continue to contribute their own ideas, critiques and creative thinking. “If people start relying on AI completely, their own creative abilities may suffer. Agencies that depend entirely on AI may eventually face difficulties in distinguishing themselves. If clients can independently generate content using readily available AI tools, agencies that offer only AI-generated output may struggle to remain relevant. Agencies can continue to add value only through their creativity, strategic thinking and understanding of consumer behaviour,” he said. The benefits of AI are also being experienced by small businesses.

 

Jasleen Kaur Bedi, whose mother runs a small, home-grown jewellery business, said that social media promotion earlier required considerable time and effort. Product photographs would often be taken at home and prepared manually for online platforms by her. “Before moving out for my studies, I was concerned about whether Ma would be able to manage the business’s social media activities on her own. However, AI tools have simplified the process considerably. Now, all she has to do is click a photograph and enter the appropriate prompt. The tools help create the required content, which saves a lot of time,” she said. While AI is likely to become an increasingly important part of advertising and branding, it is unlikely to replace human creativity entirely. Instead, it is a tool that can improve efficiency and support the creative process, while emotional understanding, local preferences, and strategic thinking will always rely on human judgement. As AI becomes more visible in advertising campaigns across the city, the debate is gradually shifting from whether it will replace creativity to how technology and human imagination can work together in shaping the future of advertising.