# Sci-Fi AR Marketing Google Used the New York Times to Host a Stranger Things Augmented Reality Ad By Daniel Johnson | Published 2019-07-25 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/augmented-reality-add References: [engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2019/07/11/google-lens-stranger-things-new-york-times/) & [blog.google](https://blog.google/products/google-lens/stranger-things-new-york-times/) [Google](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taito) recently placed an augmented reality ad in the [New York Times](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irl-meta). The ad is for a fictional mall where much of the new Stranger Things takes place. The ad was placed in a recent print edition of the newspapers, so readers can use the Google Lens to scan the ad to find more information. Upon first glance, the ad looks like it is an ad from the 80s. However, after users view the ad on Google Lens, it transforms into an ad for the Starcourt Mall, from the new season of the show. Google notes that its recent Stranger Things ad continues its collaboration with museums, magazines retailers and more. Users can currently see the Stranger Things augmented reality ad using ARCore Android smartphones. Image Credit: Google Lens ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Interactive](https://www.trendhunter.com/interactive) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Augmented Reality Marketing:** Opportunity for brands to leverage AR technology to create immersive and interactive marketing experiences. - **Print Advertising Innovation:** Exploring new ways to enhance traditional print ads using technologies like augmented reality. - **Collaborative Brand Partnerships:** Increasing partnerships between brands, museums, magazines, and retailers to create unique and engaging marketing campaigns. ### Who This Affects Most - **Advertising:** Disruptive opportunities for advertising agencies to incorporate augmented reality into their campaigns and offer innovative solutions to clients. - **Retail:** Opportunity for retailers to leverage augmented reality in their print ads or in-store experiences to drive customer engagement and sales. - **Entertainment:** Collaboration opportunities between entertainment companies and tech giants to create immersive and interactive marketing campaigns for TV shows, movies, and more. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Groundbreaking AR Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/windooh.md) - [AR-Enabled Horror Movie Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/halloween-kills.md) - [Alien-Hunting AR Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taito.md) - [AR-Enabled Google Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-7.md) - [AR Infrastructure Lenses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/augmented-reality-lens.md) - [AR-Powered Furniture Lenses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-search-2.md) - [AR-Based Map Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-maps-1.md) - [Interactive AR Storefronts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spotselfie-ar-meta-stores.md) - [Immersive Hybrid Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/halloween-thrillboards.md)