A mysterious satirical ad campaign has taken the tech world by storm, targeting the unsettling messaging of AI startups with provocative billboards in San Francisco and New York City. The fictitious company “Replacement.AI” has launched a biting critique of artificial intelligence’s most troubling narratives, using dark humor and shocking imagery to challenge the tech industry’s narrative.

The billboards, strategically placed in high-visibility areas like San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood and Times Square, feature deeply uncomfortable messaging. One billboard in the Castro depicts a chilling scene with robotic arms reaching from under a child’s bed, alongside text reading: “AI does your daughter’s homework. Reads her bedtime stories. Romances her. Deepfakes her. Don’t worry. It’s totally legal”.

Another billboard targets artists, sarcastically thanking them for “donating your life’s work to our AI” while noting their contributions remain “uncompensated”.

The fake company’s website doubles down on the satirical assault, featuring taglines that mirror actual AI startup rhetoric: “Humans no longer necessary. Stupid. Smelly. Squishy. It’s time for a machine solution”. They’ve even included a real quote from OpenAI’s Sam Altman suggesting AI might “most likely lead to the end of the world”.

The campaign includes elaborate digital presence, complete with LinkedIn profiles, YouTube videos, and social media accounts featuring fictional characters like one-named CEO Dan and HR Director Faith, who claims firing people gave her an “almost-spiritual high”.

While the true creators remain anonymous, the campaign brilliantly exposes the potentially dehumanizing aspects of AI technology, challenging tech culture’s often cavalier approach to workforce replacement and ethical boundaries.

As the mysterious Replacement.AI suggests: “Don’t despair. AI is coming for all of us. I hope you’ve got savings!”