AI and Mascots: The Lethal Duo in Advertising

Remember the Amul girl from your childhood? The little girl with a cute ponytail, big eyes, and her tongue playfully sticking out. To many, she was more than just a cartoon. She was a household icon. Every time a fresh pack of Amul butter, curd, or milk was brought home, our eyes instantly went to her. Especially during childhood, because of the playful look she displays, and as kids we are just the same. Over the years, she became inseparable from the Amul brand, a mascot that remains a part of our collective memory.

However, advertising has undergone significant changes since then. What once worked as a static mascot on packaging or billboards has now entered a whole new dimension. You know what that is- Artificial Intelligence (AI). All the top advertising agencies and digital branding agencies must have now started incorporating AI-powered mascots in the advertisements  to give the brands the boost they need!

The Shift: From Static Icons to Dynamic Personalities

For decades, top brands had iconic mascots, two-dimensional figures swiftly caught the attention of the people, and left a long-lasting impression on the minds of target consumers. Be it Amul girl, Nirma’s washing powder girl, or Air India’s Maharaja, each and every mascot has been imprinted in our minds at first glance itself. But as the time flew, we had to adapt to changes in the advertising landscape, and we had to embrace the updated technology to grow.

With changing consumer behavior and a tech-driven marketplace, static mascots are just not enough. The need of the hour is to design the mascot better than before, and the target audience finds it engaging and interactive. Today’s audience doesn’t just want to see a mascot; they want to interact with it. The best way to achieve it? AI

AI is transforming mascots from simple drawings into living, breathing brand personalities. Instead of being confined to packaging or posters, AI-powered mascots can talk, engage, answer queries, adapt to trends, and even personalize interactions with customers.

AI in Action: The New Age Mascot

AI tools now allow brands to create mascots that are:

Interactive-

Engagement and interactivity take the lead role in building big brands. While static mascots have remained in everyone’s thoughts, AI-driven mascots have an edge. You know how? They make the experience with the audience more interactive.

Imagine chatting with your favorite brand mascot on WhatsApp, Instagram, or even during online shopping.

Personalized-

The mascots we saw in our childhood may have caught the attention of people easily.  However, with AI now in the scenario, the top advertising agencies have the scope to make things better. We have the privilege to modify the tone, language, and even look of the mascots, keeping our target audience in mind.

Dynamic:

One of the biggest advantages of being a master in AI is the dynamism.  AI can animate, evolve, and make mascots come alive in multiple formats. AR filters or 3D avatars in the metaverse, AI-powered mascots score advantages over the traditional ones.

Never Go Out of Trend

Some mascots might become iconic, but for some brands, it is just the opposite, i.e, they are easily forgotten over a period of time. This is where AI-driven mascots  step in. You know what’s the best part? They never go out of season. They can respond, engage, and stay active around the clock.

Consistent Across Platforms-

Social media is the fastest medium to promote the AI-driven mascots. Whether on social media or other formats, the mascot carries the same brand personality everywhere. This will earn the mascots the attention of the desired target audience.

Citing Some Examples

We just discussed how AI has stepped up in making mascots more interactive and loveable. One of the best examples of this is a  video of the Amul girl enjoying a wholesome cheese. She feels happy and smiles as she grabs a bite!

Similarly, the Parle-G girl sits on a heap of Parle-G biscuits and smiles

The videos were uploaded by an Instagram user a few months ago, which flooded the internet and made the viewers feel nostalgic, establishing a deep emotional connection.

What Is the Future of AI-Driven Mascots

From the playful Amul girl of the 60s to AI-powered 3D avatars today, mascots have come a long way.

As the technology is evolving,  top advertising agencies have the tools to make mascots bigger, better, and smarter than ever before. It is a weapon that will give the necessary push to digital and social media marketing as well.

In the coming years, mascots won’t just be about the brand’s, they will be an emotion, merging reality with artificial intelligence.