Google’s Pixel 10 Ads Leave Me Confused About Their Message

Ever catch a commercial and think, “What were they thinking?” Today, Google has rolled out two new ads for its Pixel 10 phones, and let’s just say they might not hit the mark as intended.

First up is “With 100x Zoom,” which seems to imply that if a vacation rental company misrepresents the view from your hotel, it’s okay to mislead your friends and family about it too! The ad encourages viewers to believe that even if the stunning view you were promised is actually far away, you can still snap a photo that makes it look like you were right there.

The YouTube description clarifies Google’s message: “So even if that breathtaking view you were promised turns out to be miles away, now you can zoom your way to a photo that makes it look like you were right there.” However, the ad also acknowledges that what you’re seeing is “simulated,” “for illustrative purposes,” and that “additional hardware” was involved.

Next, we have “Moving on,” a 30-second spot that seems to be narrated from the perspective of a heartbroken phone. It’s a bit perplexing at first, but imagining it in the voice of Penn Badgley from “You” adds a humorous twist.

Here’s a snippet of the script:
> From the moment we met, we went everywhere together.
> Nights out, vacations, everywhere.
> I thought I was your world.
> But then you felt I didn’t get you anymore.
> And you started flirting with the idea of something new.
> Now, you’re glowing again.
> You find what you’re drawn to.
> You’re even showing off to all your friends.
> You wanted smarter… I’m still trying to process that.

So, is the voice in Google’s ad really “moving on,” or is it an AI-driven Joe Goldberg keeping tabs on this woman through her phone?