Colgate's AI-generated toothpaste ad exposes quality control gaps
Colgate posted a promotional image for its new coconut and watermelon toothpaste on Instagram that contains visibly distorted text on the product packaging-a hallmark of AI-generated imagery. The warped typography ranges from slightly garbled to completely illegible, prompting social media users to call out the brand for using what they described as "AI slop."
The ad itself follows conventional advertising logic: floating fruit against a blue background, product centered, minimal text. The problems emerge only on close inspection of the packaging labels, where characters break down into nonsensical shapes.
Instagram commenters were direct in their criticism. One user wrote, "What in the hot AI garbage is this?" Another said, "One would think you would at least bother to fix the AI slop labels, yet here we are." A third simply requested: "Please hire new graphic designers."
A pattern among brands
This isn't an isolated incident. Brands are increasingly using AI to generate advertising materials, often without adequate quality checks. The trend reflects cost pressures and speed-to-market demands, but the visible flaws-particularly text rendering-undermine credibility with audiences who now recognize these artifacts immediately.
For creative professionals, the lesson is straightforward: AI tools can accelerate workflows, but they require human oversight. Text generation remains a documented weakness in current image models, and packaging-focused ads demand pixel-perfect accuracy.
If you work in design or advertising, understanding both the capabilities and failure modes of AI tools is increasingly essential. AI Design Courses and Generative Art Training can help you integrate these tools effectively while maintaining quality standards your clients expect.
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