Dollar Shave Club Uses Generative AI To Skewer Corporate Culture
Edited by Kanesa David — January 19, 2026 — Marketing
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
References: ca.dollarshaveclub & retaildive
Dollar Shave Club teamed up with creative boutique Too Short For Modeling to debut “We Put Our Money Where It Matters,” a 60-second, AI-assisted commercial that lampoons bloated corporate rivals. The spot centers on a fictional “Razor Corp” boardroom, where executives reject obvious cost cuts before a clueless CEO proposes replacing employees with artificial intelligence. The ad supports the rollout of Dollar Shave Club’s latest premium razor while reinforcing the brand’s irreverent challenger positioning.
To produce the film within a tight, weeks-long window, the partners relied on generative AI to handle complex visual sequences. Surreal scenes, including a skyscraper shaped like a razor and a gorilla awkwardly shaving, were animated with AI tools instead of traditional VFX pipelines. This hybrid approach lets the team scale visual ambition without the time and cost of full live-action or hand-crafted animation.
For consumers, the campaign reflects how AI can be used not just for efficiency but as a storytelling subject in its own right. By making the tech-obsessed CEO the joke, Dollar Shave Club taps into widespread skepticism around automation while still showcasing eye-catching digital imagery. The result sits at the intersection of meme-ready humor, cost-conscious production, and ongoing experimentation with AI-generated creative in mainstream advertising.
Image Credit: Dollar Shave Club
To produce the film within a tight, weeks-long window, the partners relied on generative AI to handle complex visual sequences. Surreal scenes, including a skyscraper shaped like a razor and a gorilla awkwardly shaving, were animated with AI tools instead of traditional VFX pipelines. This hybrid approach lets the team scale visual ambition without the time and cost of full live-action or hand-crafted animation.
For consumers, the campaign reflects how AI can be used not just for efficiency but as a storytelling subject in its own right. By making the tech-obsessed CEO the joke, Dollar Shave Club taps into widespread skepticism around automation while still showcasing eye-catching digital imagery. The result sits at the intersection of meme-ready humor, cost-conscious production, and ongoing experimentation with AI-generated creative in mainstream advertising.
Image Credit: Dollar Shave Club
Trend Themes
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AI-assisted Creative Storytelling — AI integration in advertising enables captivating narratives that challenge traditional storytelling methods with faster and more flexible content production.
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Meme-driven Marketing — The strategic use of humor and memes in branding connects with younger audiences, reshaping traditional advertising dynamics and consumption habits.
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Automation Skepticism in Advertising — Advertising campaigns that cleverly critique the over-reliance on automation can resonate with consumers wary of AI's increasing role, offering brands a new angle for engagement.
Industry Implications
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Advertising — Generative AI presents a transformative tool for creating high-impact visuals and narratives, providing cost-effective solutions to boost creativity and efficiency in ad campaigns.
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Media Production — The shift toward AI-driven visual effects and animation disrupts traditional VFX processes, enabling quicker turnaround times without sacrificing artistic ambition in media projects.
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Consumer Goods — Brands in the consumer goods sector can leverage irreverent, satirical content to differentiate from competitors and foster a brand identity that appeals to modern consumers.
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