Google's AI Ad: Founding Fathers Spark Fury

The latest advertising campaign from Google Workspace is likely to provoke a strong reaction across the American political spectrum, potentially inspiring a desire to discard digital devices.

Opening with the tagline, “Group project, but make it 1776,” a new commercial for Google Workspace immediately sets a tone that many viewers may find increasingly uncomfortable. The advertisement creatively imagines a scenario where the Founding Fathers leverage Google’s suite of collaboration tools and the Gemini AI to facilitate the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Within this historical reimagining, Benjamin Franklin is depicted texting Thomas Jefferson to inquire about a draft’s progress. Jefferson responds by taking a photo of the document, which Gemini then transcribes into a Google Doc. Franklin and John Adams subsequently engage in collaborative editing using suggestion mode. Gemini is also shown scheduling a meeting time, taking notes during a Google Meet call, and even generating a national seal featuring a turkey—a choice humorously noted as potentially more "honest" than the traditional eagle.

As the narrative approaches its climax, just before fireworks ignite, the Founding Fathers consult Gemini for advice on whether to grant King George III edit access to the Declaration of Independence. This particular scene is poised to incite widespread incredulity, prompting many to question the historical sensitivity of the campaign. It also raises broader questions about how such AI might have responded to inquiries regarding women's suffrage, slavery, or Manifest Destiny in their respective historical contexts.

Overall, the commercial has been widely described as ill-conceived, trite, and lacking in substance. CUNY history professor Angus Johnston succinctly captured the sentiment on Bluesky, stating, “Even in a corny fantasy joke, it’s impossible to make the case that AI is a useful tool for political organizing, writing, or human collaboration.”