French supermarket's Christmas advert is worldwide hit (without AI) [video]

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

The discussion surrounding the advertisements reveals three primary themes: the reaction to AI-generated content, the quality and messaging of advertising in general, and narrative loopholes concerning animal diets (specifically the wolf eating fish).

Here are the three most prevalent themes:

1. Negative Sentiment Toward AI-Generated Advertising

There is a strong undercurrent of frustration, particularly directed at recent AI ads from major brands like McDonald's (which the main discussion revolves around tangentially). Many users view AI output as inherently low-effort or "slop."

Supporting Quote: Regarding the McDonald's ad, one user stated, "Goodness, that ad made me want to barf" (Sprotch). Another user criticized the overall quality: "I'm pro-AI but I thought the Coca-Cola and McDonald's ads were shit. The Coke one was especially egregious because if the creators hadn't been lazy they could have made it look half-decent. Instead it's janky and inconsistent and ugly" (qingcharles).

2. The Re-emergence of Valuing Human Craftsmanship Over Automation

A significant portion of the conversation pits the perceived "soul" of human creation—even in advertising—against the ease and convenience of AI tools. This mirrors historical debates about new artistic technologies, like the introduction of computer graphics (CGI).

Supporting Quote: One user expressed nostalgia for the limitations and skill required in older filmmaking: "Part of watching films and animations was that seeing that a human created this inspired the wish to create in yourself. When all they did was enter a prompt that takes some of the magic away" (galleywest200). Another user summarized the dichotomy: "We're at that point, where we are literally celebrating something made by humans, not machines. Wild timeline" (qingcharles).

3. Debate Over Dietary Realism and Anthropomorphism in the Narrative

The central plot of the discussed commercial (a wolf choosing vegetarian options) sparks debate regarding realistic animal diets versus the license taken by storytelling conventions ("suspension of disbelief"). The choice to have the wolf eat fish, while other animals talk, was heavily scrutinized.

Supporting Quote: After noting the wolf's dietary shift, a user pointed out the inconsistency: "It's a shame my cynic brain is telling me 'but wolves can't survive off of berries and nuts'" (johnnyanmac). Another user focused on the speciesism involved in the choice: "Then later the wolf is killing fish, and that's ...okay I guess because they don't talk or walk like the other animals? The speciesism hit hard" (tejohnso).

🚀 Project Ideas

AI-Generated Content Provenance Tracker (AGCPT)

Summary

A browser extension and associated web service designed to detect and flag AI-generated content across popular platforms (HN, YouTube, X, etc.) based on known artifacts, generation patterns, and user reports.
Core value proposition: Providing transparency and context about potential AI usage in media, addressing user concerns about "slop" and authenticity ("Is 'they didn't use AI' really a criteria now?").

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Critical media consumers, professionals concerned about synthetic content, and users tired of "slop" ("The people who care about the animations, cinematography, etc").
Core Feature	Real-time overlay/badge on content (images, videos, text posts on sites like HN) indicating a calculated probability of AI origin.
Tech Stack	Browser Extension (JavaScript, WebAssembly for localized pattern matching); Backend Service (Python/FastAPI, Machine Learning models for artifact detection, scalable database for storing reports/signals).
Difficulty	High (Requires sophisticated, constantly updated ML models to keep up with evolving generative tech.)

Notes

Solves the dilemma raised by users like prodigycorp and foxyv about wading through "shovelware" or content where the human element/effort is obscured.
Directly responds to the meta-discussion about whether content is human-made (like the Intermarché ad) vs. AI-generated (like the McDonald's ad).

Post-Production and Visual Literacy Critique Tool ("Sightline")

Summary

A tool aimed at film/VFX enthusiasts and critics that analyzes video frames to provide immediate feedback on the likely technical execution method (Practical vs. CGI vs. Compositing).
Core value proposition: Bridging the gap between appreciating "peak practical effects" and understanding modern VFX workflows, helping users identify why some CGI looks fake ("Excessive perfection and too many things moving the optimal way").

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Film buffs, VFX students, and critics frustrated by the perceived decline in practical filmmaking skills (`phantasmish`, `troupo`).
Core Feature	Upload video or link to publicly available film/trailer; tool generates frame-by-frame analysis flagging areas with high entropy/perfect geometry indicative of CG versus visible film grain/lens distortion indicative of practical work.
Tech Stack	Python/OpenCV for image processing and pattern recognition; cloud-based video analysis service (e.g., AWS Lambda/ECS) for heavy lifting; simple web interface (React).
Difficulty	Medium/High (Requires extensive training data pairing real-world footage artifacts with known CG hallmarks.)

Notes

Directly addresses the detailed historical debate between users like phantasmish and CyberDildonics regarding Fury Road vs. Bullitt, moving the discussion past anecdote to technical analysis.
Could generate interesting visualizations showing when "convenience editing" or "fix it in post" might have compromised an organic shot.

Creative Integrity & Labor Context Service ("CreatorContext")

Summary

A service platform where creative endeavors (short films, independent games, commissioned artwork) can optionally submit verifiable metadata proving their production process, labor investment, and non-AI tooling usage.
Core value proposition: Providing a verifiable certificate of human effort ("Inspired the wish to create in yourself") for creators who put in the traditional work, offering a counter-narrative to the low-effort "AI slop."

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Independent artists, filmmakers, and storytellers who deeply care about craft and effort (`galleywest200`, `ekjhgkejhgk`).
Core Feature	Developers integrate a lightweight SDK/API that logs timestamps, software used, and manual input milestones. The platform issues an immutable, time-stamped receipt or "Purity Seal" stored on a ledger.
Tech Stack	Backend (Go/Rust for performance); Blockchain/Ledger service (like Polygon or specialized DLT) for immutable proof of work documentation; Creator Dashboard (Vue.js).
Difficulty	Medium (The core challenge is developer adoption and trust in the verification process, not the tech itself.)

Notes

Appeals to the sentiment that "people cared about all of the work that went into that," addressing the skepticism around cheap/easy generation (wat10000).
Would fuel discussion about whether consumers ("Consumers only care about value for money") would ever pay a premium or show preference for certified human work.