{"id":130922,"date":"2026-08-05T23:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/130922\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T23:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:12:22","slug":"fake-subway-ads-pit-creativity-against-ai-and-gets-laughs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/130922\/","title":{"rendered":"Fake subway ads pit creativity against AI and gets laughs"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s widely agreed that tech-generated ads walk the line between confusing and stupid. That\u2019s why artists Harris Alterman and Dave Ross are having a little fun in the subways by posting parody ads<\/a> featuring taglines meant to turn the tables on AI.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis idea came about because I\u2019m a comedian and I ride the subway in New York City all the time, and I saw all of these AI ads that were confusing me, and annoying me, and I wondered if other people felt the same way,\u201d Alterman said. \u201cSo I asked Dave, who is also a comedian, if he wanted to work with me on this project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HarrisHarris Alterman and Dave Ross are having a little fun in the subways by posting parody ads featuring taglines meant to turn the tables on AI. (Courtesy Photo)<\/p>\n

The pair began texting one another photos of real AI advertisements they saw in subways, then met in a diner to create their own take on those ads.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just put all of the kind of tech lingo that they used into a giant Google Doc, then kind of played Mad Libs,\u201d<\/a> Harris said. \u201cKind of, just, moved words around until something makes both of us laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of their ads is for a fake company called Wireflow. Its motto is simply \u201cYou pay us, we pay you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HarrisHarris Alterman and Dave Ross are having a little fun in the subways by posting parody ads featuring taglines meant to turn the tables on AI. (Courtesy Photo)<\/p>\n

The poster includes no contact information or explanation of how that business might work. Another of the duo\u2019s phoney ads is for \u201cGrandfather,\u201d touted as \u201cthe world\u2019s first wearable AI grandfather.\u201d The ad appears to be a nod to \u201cFriend,\u201d the wearable AI companion startup that made headlines last September for its $1M ad buy across MTA stations<\/a> in the city that drew confusion and irritation among straphangers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Because the New York City Police Department is a real thing that deals in real consequences, Alterman and Harris only post their fake ads in subway stations long enough to shoot photos and video of their work that they can then post on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually got yelled at while putting them up once and we had to reassure the MTA workers that we were going to take them right down,\u201d Ross said. \u201cThen they were fine with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HarrisHarris Alterman and Dave Ross are having a little fun in the subways by posting parody ads featuring taglines meant to turn the tables on AI. (Courtesy Photo)<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what the pair plans to do Saturday afternoon at the W. 4th Street subway station under Greenwich Village where they\u2019ll host their Fake Tech Ad Art Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Though they\u2019ve worked in the tech space, Alterman and Harris have no plans to actually create companies like \u201cWake Market,\u201d which theoretically allows gamblers to somehow bet on grief when someone dies. They don\u2019t imagine a big advertising company is going to come calling, either. Rather, the pair is simply having fun and making art.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happening now is kind of best case,\u201d Ross believes.<\/p>\n

\"HarrisHarris Alterman and Dave Ross are having a little fun in the subways by posting parody ads featuring taglines meant to turn the tables on AI. (Courtesy Photo)<\/p>\n

People who have come across their work know they\u2019re looking at parody, but seem to get a laugh out of art that imitates artificial intelligence\u2019s understanding of human creativity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that one of the reasons it\u2019s funny to people, is, that they could be real,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople will literally comment, \u2018If I saw these in the subway, I wouldn\u2019t even bat an
eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

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