A crystal ball view, Marketing & Advertising News, ET BrandEquity
By Nisha Singhania
As we edge closer to a world where AI can predict our lunch cravings before we do, advertising is poised to evolve. Here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at what might—and might not—await us.
1. AI Will Steal Our Jobs… and Then Ask for a Raise
By 2025, AI isn’t just crafting ads; it’s running agencies. Creative directors will brainstorm with GPT-12, who insists its ideas are “99.97% data-backed” (and oddly resemble Nike’s campaigns from 2012). Meanwhile, account managers will rely on AI for pitch decks, only to have clients say, “Can we make it more… human?”
2. Influencers: From Humans to Holograms
Move over Kardashians, the Insta-verse is now ruled by holographic influencers. These pixel-perfect personas never sleep, eat, or post cringe. Brands will argue over which virtual influencer truly captures “authenticity” while real humans like us scream into the void.
3. Advertising on Mars
With Elon Musk selling Martian real estate, advertisers will scramble to secure their cosmic presence. The first interplanetary Cannes Lions will feature awards like “Best Martian Ambient Ad” and “Most Creative Use of Zero Gravity.”
Let’s hope they have better Wi-Fi there than we do on Earth.
4. Privacy? What Privacy?
By 2025, your smart toaster will know your favorite color, breakfast preference, and browsing history. Advertisers will target you based on “toaster data.” Imagine this:
• You burn toast.
• Your toaster sends an alert.
• Ten seconds later, Instagram serves you an ad for anti-burn gloves.
We’ll call it “predictive regret marketing.” Creepy? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
5. The Rise of Ultra-Micro-Targeting
Forget demographics; in 2025, we’ll target specific psychographics
- Target Audience: Left-handed, vegan cat lovers who listen to 90s punk rock while meal prepping quinoa.
6. Sustainability Becomes Unavoidable (and Sometimes Absurd)
By 2025, sustainability will dominate advertising, with every campaign declaring its love for the planet. Expect bizarre greenwashing like“Buy this eco-friendly car, and we’ll plant a tree every time you brake!”7. Gen Z Will Rule the World (and the Briefs)
By 2025, Gen Z will be running the show, and their briefs will be as wild as their memes:
- “Make it snarky but heartfelt.”
- “Can we blend existential dread with optimism?”
- “And it needs to slap—like, literally slap.”
Good luck, fellow creatives.
8. Purpose-Driven Marketing Will Reach Absurd Levels
Every brand will feel the pressure to “stand for something,” even when it doesn’t make sense. By 2025, we’ll see:
- Toothpick companies pledging to “fight climate change, one sustainable stick at a time.
- Cat food brands promoting “mental health awareness for pets.
9. Consumers Will Demand Instant Everything
Forget 10 minute ‘bolt’ delivery; in 2025, consumers will want everything NOW. Hyper-local delivery will become the norm, with drones dropping off toothpaste within 2 minutes of your panicked Amazon search.
10. The Big Idea Will Still Matter… Somehow
Despite all the AI, holograms, and toasters spying on us, one thing won’t change: Big Ideas will remain the backbone of advertising. A clever insight, a human connection, or a bold piece of storytelling will still cut through the chaos. Because, let’s face it—whether in 2025 or 3025, people will always remember the campaigns that made them feel something.
Finally, advertising in 2025 will be chaotic, hilarious, and a little bit terrifying. But hey, if we can survive social trends, brand purpose debates, and clients who want everything now, we can handle whatever the future throws at us.
So here’s to the next big idea!
(The author is the managing partner and CEO, Infectious Advertising. The information provided in the article is for general information purposes only.
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