Gary, Bob, and Ai.
Dodgy ai doesn’t really mean the end of the world.
Why:
Advania wanted to step into the spotlight, showcasing their AI prowess beyond just Microsoft Co-pilot. They aimed to become the go-to gurus of AI integration in the finance jungle, helping businesses navigate the wild world of artificial intelligence.
What:
We started with a bunch of ideas. "Wingmate" was fun but felt too obvious. "AI-TEAM" had energy, but the message was a bit confusing. "Dynamic Duos" got everyone excited—it used humor and familiar partnerships to show how Advania and AI work together. But it got shut down by leadership late in the game.
Early concepts
So what now?
We had to go back to the drawing board and think harder about how to land this in the real world. What does good and bad AI actually look like—especially when AI is essentially invisible? It’s not just a button on a screen. We needed to make the experience seen, felt, and understood. That insight pushed us to dramatise the difference in a way people could relate to.
2 mates, 2 very different worlds…
That led me to the "Gary, Bob, and AI" idea. It used humor and real-life moments to compare clunky, frustrating AI to smooth, helpful AI. The best part? It introduced the idea of a "digital twin"—an AI that works just like you, leaving you to see bigger. That concept really hit home with the client. It showed how Advania could help create the kind of AI experience that feels smart, natural, and actually useful. It put the user first and made Advania feel like a trustworthy, human partner—not just a tech provider.
But what about that “oh so bad” ai…
The goal was simple:
make the invisible visible.
AI is abstract.
When it works, it’s seamless. When it doesn’t, it’s chaos.
The Robot:
A clunky, retro bot captured the feeling of bad AI—charming but useless. Tinfoil arms. Frozen face. Stuck in the past.
Visual Style:
Dull office tones and flat lighting set the scene.
Cinematic framing added drama.
Every shot contrasted frustration with blank, robotic indifference.
Details:
Gary got scruffier as the robot stayed the same.
Props told their own story—paper chaos, outdated manuals, coffee spills.
Tone:
Dry humour
Familiar frustration
Just the right amount of absurd
Creating a world of mishap had many routes. The robot meltdown concept raised a smile—but also some concerns. Advania wanted clarity, not just chaos
And as much as we know what a hacker looks like in the Hollywood….consideration around OOH locations was also a realisation.
How:
All visual concept work was first created using AI tools and then carefully polished in Photoshop to make sure everything looked right and felt on-brand.
We turned the "Gary, Bob, and AI" idea into a shareable digital video. We used storyboards to shape the look and flow, built custom props, cast the right people, and made sure every detail felt authentic.
