Ryan Reynolds wrote his latest ad with AI

Hollywood stars endorse products all the time, but Ryan Reynolds has always handled his marketing a bit differently. Now, the actor and Mint Mobile owner is bringing generative AI into the writer's room.

Reynolds recently released a new Mint Mobile ad that was written with the help of AI. The stunt immediately caught attention across social media, blending the ongoing tech buzz with his signature comedic style.

Another cost-cutting stunt

If you have seen Mint Mobile commercials before, you know the running joke. Reynolds always plays a penny-pinching boss doing whatever it takes to cut overhead so he can pass the savings directly to subscribers.

Using AI to draft an ad script fits perfectly into that narrative. While generative tools usually spark debates over ethics and job security, Reynolds leans into the novelty with a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek delivery.

The timing is not an accident either. With inflation driving up everyday living costs, budget-conscious consumers have been shopping around for cheaper cellular plans, giving Mint a clear opening to push its lower rates.

Reynolds is a master of rapid-fire cultural hijacking. From bringing viral figures into his Aviation Gin spots to mailing temporary tattoo stickers promoting savings to subscribers, he knows how to turn a trending topic into brand awareness.

The Deadpool playbook for risky ads

Reynolds' ads often look improvised, but the actor told AdWeek that his creative team is actually extremely risk-averse.

People assume they just shoot from the hip because they move so fast, Reynolds explained. In reality, they spend a massive amount of time stress-testing every idea before turning on the cameras.

He applies the same formula he used while scripting Deadpool. The team asks how hyper-sensitive viewers might react, compares that to the reaction of people who care about nothing, and aims straight for the middle ground.

Working through that lens of empathy lets the material feel edgy and rebellious without crossing the line into a genuine PR disaster.

Why it matters

We think this campaign offers a masterclass in how consumer-facing brands should introduce AI into their messaging.

Right now, public sentiment around AI is touchy. When big tech firms boast about automation, audiences often push back against corporate overreach or creativity loss. Reynolds avoided that backlash entirely by making AI the punchline.

By framing AI as a cheap trick to save everyday customers a few bucks, he neutralized the controversy before it could start.

That said, we think this strategy has clear limits. The ad does not succeed because the AI wrote a brilliant script; it works because Ryan Reynolds is the one reading it with deadpan charisma.

For most businesses without a beloved celebrity founder, putting raw AI output into customer-facing marketing is still far more likely to look lazy than charming.