Imagine walking down a bustling street in Jakarta, only to see a dinosaur casually strolling past a bubble tea shop, or Jakarta’s iconic Ondel-Ondel puppets breaking into an aerobics routine between skyscrapers. Sounds like a scene from a sci-fi movie, right? But this is no fantasy—it’s the future of advertising, and it’s happening right now in Indonesia. Google Gemini, in collaboration with Superson, DDB Singapore, and Hagia Labs, has just launched an AI-powered “see-through” billboard campaign that’s turning heads and redefining outdoor advertising. But here’s where it gets controversial: is this the pinnacle of innovation, or are we crossing a line by blending reality with AI-generated fantasies in public spaces? Let’s dive in.
As part of Google Gemini’s #BikinGebrakanLo initiative, this campaign isn’t just about flashy visuals—it’s a bold experiment in merging technology, creativity, and local culture. Using Google’s Veo 3 technology, the billboards don’t just display ads; they transform urban landscapes into immersive experiences. Picture bubble tea waves cascading between buildings, interdimensional portals opening up on city streets, and dinosaurs roaming freely—all while seamlessly blending with the actual architecture around them. And this is the part most people miss: each billboard features a QR code inviting local creators to submit their own Veo 3 content, making the campaign a true co-creation between brands and communities.
Superson led the charge with its “Supersprint” methodology, bringing together Google’s cutting-edge tech, DDB Singapore’s creative vision, Hagia Labs’ technical wizardry, and the talent of Indonesian students and artists. The result? A campaign that produced around 40 unique 15-second assets in just weeks—a process that traditionally takes months. Take the 30×20 meter display at City Plaza, for example. It doesn’t just show ads; it adapts to real-time weather conditions and can deploy new content within 24 hours based on social trends or news events. Talk about staying culturally relevant!
But let’s pause for a moment. Is this innovation, or are we overwhelming public spaces with tech-driven distractions? Antti Toivonen, MD for Superson APAC, argues it’s the former: “This shows how AI enables entirely new formats. Bringing cityscapes and trends to life at scale and speed wouldn’t have been possible without Google’s latest technologies. It’s the era of supercharged creativity.” Yet, the question remains: at what point does creativity become intrusion?
Vinod Savio, chief creative officer at DDB Singapore, sees it as a triumph of collaboration: “This execution is a powerful validation of the #BikinGebrakanLo concept. Superson’s sprint model turned a big creative vision into a world-first technical reality with unmatched speed.” Sedat Boynuegri, founder of Hagia Labs, adds, “AI lifted both speed and quality. We designed see-through and 3D experiences, turning live cultural signals into design. The bigger win was the workflow.”
This campaign marks the first large-scale commercial use of AI video generation in outdoor advertising, showcasing a hybrid collaboration model that blends technology, creativity, and cultural insight. Local partners like HudHud, Media Futures Group, and Voxxy played a key role in ensuring the campaign resonated with Indonesian audiences. Mira Sumanti, Southeast Asia brand & creative lead at Google, notes, “This project exemplifies how modern brands build dream teams from the best specialists across agencies and technology providers.”
But here’s the million-dollar question: Are we enhancing public spaces, or are we turning them into tech-driven playgrounds? As we marvel at the creativity and innovation, it’s worth asking: Where do we draw the line? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you see this as the future of advertising, or a step too far into the realm of tech-driven fantasy?
