Visual cues

In the early 20th century, as the Soviet Union and other communist states sought to spread their ideology, they turned to art as a powerful tool of persuasion. Socialist realism, the official art style of the Soviet Union, depicted an idealised version of life under communism, with heroic workers, bountiful harvests, and gleaming machinery. This style was heavily influenced by agitprop, a form of political propaganda that aimed to agitate and mobilise the masses.

At its core, socialist realism was a form of marketing, designed to sell a vision of a utopian future and rally support for the communist cause. While the style itself fell out of favour with the collapse of the Soviet Union, its legacy as a tool of persuasion and ideological promotion lives on.

Our Take / / / / / / / /

THE PROMISE

We’ve chosen to adopt this visual style as a satirical commentary on the current state of the AI industry. Just as propagandists used art to sell a vision of a perfect society, many AI companies today rely on slick marketing and grandiose promises to promote their products, often with little regard for the potential consequences.

By embracing the bold, dramatic, and often unsettling aesthetics, we aim to provoke a deeper conversation about the risks and realities of AI adoption. Our visuals serve as a reminder that, like the communist utopias of the past, the AI revolution being sold to us today may not live up to its hype.

THE TRUTH

/ / / / / / / / Calling Out the Snake Oil

The AI industry is rife with “snake oil” – products and services that make grand claims about their capabilities but fail to deliver real value or address the ethical concerns surrounding AI. At Obsolete, we believe it’s crucial to call out these empty promises and challenge the notion that AI is a panacea for all our problems.

By subverting the propaganda techniques of the past, we aim to make our audience question the marketing messages they’re being fed and think critically about the true potential and limitations of AI.

Behind the Satire / / / / / / / /

It’s not political, it’s practical. We believe that by drawing from the lessons of the past and challenging the hype of the present, we can help businesses and society navigate the AI revolution in a way that prioritises human well-being and long-term success.

Our goal is absolutely not to discourage AI adoption, but rather to encourage a more thoughtful, measured approach that takes into account the ethical, social, and economic implications of this transformative technology. By being willing to ask tough questions and challenge the status quo, we hope to help our clients and our society build a future where AI and humanity can thrive together. It’s all about business, but certainly not business as usual.

/ / / / / / / / Leaning in

We’re not afraid to be different, and we definitely aren’t for everyone. This is just one of the ways we’re working to spark meaningful conversations about the future of AI and its impact on our world.