Maybe you feel like you can't escape talk of AI. Maybe you're optimistic about it. Maybe you're convinced it's the downfall of humanity, or at least, our humanity. Or maybe you're someone who really hasn't thought that much about it or are even that aware of it. As saturated as a lot of news and media is with talk of AI, I suspect the vast majority of people actually fall into the latter category. We're sort of in the equivalent of 1993, where people have heard of the internet, some are using it, but a lot of people don't really see where or how it will fit into their life.
But this is not a post about the future of AI, or the possibilities and pitfalls it might present in the future. I might get into that at a later date as I learn and explore it more, but NO! This is not a post about that.
This is a post about iced coffee. And the Jonas Brothers.
Ok, it's actually more just sharing my experiments with AI as I explore it as a creative tool. Most of these ideas are absolutely not worth sharing, and this one likely isn't either, but it made me laugh, so here you go.
I was sitting in my local coffee shop, thinking about how it's almost time to switch to iced coffee, which got me thinking about prepackaged iced coffee. As you may or may not know, I am in the beverage business in the loosest of senses after creating my own energy drink, Stepdaddy Energy. It's as ridiculous as it sounds, which was kind of the point, but apparently it tastes better than RedBull. I wouldn't know, I don't usually drink energy drinks.
Anyway, as I'm mentally meandering on iced coffee, I read an article about the decline in sales for celebrity backed tequila brands. Don't worry, Kendall Jenner is still fine. But it got me thinking. To quote Nikki Glaser 'The point of art isn't to win awards... the point of art is to start a tequila brand that's so successful, you never have to make art again'
So what is the next tequila? What about coffee? It's consumed by way more people than tequila, and it can be high or low end, though there's an argument to be made that Ben Affleck has the low end cornered with his Dunkin endorsement. And that's not shade to Dunkin. My family's from Boston and DD is the only thing that made my commute to Framingham for my college internship bearable.
So yes, coffee. Java. A good ole cup of Joe... Joe... Jonas... THE JONAS BROTHERS!
And this, is how I arrived at yet another brilliant idea melding art and commerce, satire and consumerism. I give you...
'The Bros Joe' a flashed brewed iced coffee from the JoBros. It writes itself. But also, here's some copy for ya...
'When it's Burnin' Up and you need to cool down, grab you some of the Bros' Joe'
'If you're moving in Slow Motion, The Bros Joe gets you grooving again'
'I'm a Sucker for a flash brew' read by one of the Jonas brothers. Probably Joe, cos his name is Joe, but could be Nick. Probably not Kevin... or maybe Frankie. Don't forget about Frankie!
But an idea is just an idea, and whereas in the past I may have designed, printed, and even manufactured the product, I respect the brothers too much to cause a trademark issue.
However, it felt like a perfect use case for AI, so after mocking up a quick can design, I threw it into ChatGPT, prompted it to create a product shot of a can next to a glass of iced coffee sitting on a white marble counter in a midcentury modern kitchen, the product serving as the focal point, blurring the background slightly.
While not 100% photo realistic, it got more than 90% of the way there on the first try, and for an idea that would have otherwise not been shared, that's pretty incredible! The only tweak I made was asking it to set it in the morning with the light streaming in from the windows. And that's it, that's what you're seeing now.
We really are living in the future.
Of course, this is all a theoretical exercise and not at all endorsed by the Jonas Brothers. That said, guys, if this reaches you and you need someone to build out the brand, you know how to reach me.
