Google’s New Pixel Ad Takes a Musical Jab at iPhone While Highlighting AI Features

Google has released the latest entry in its long-running BestPhonesForever campaign, this time drawing inspiration from the new film Wicked: For Good. The ad takes a playful swipe at Apple’s iPhone while showcasing Google Pixel features in a humorous, musical style.

The new spot depicts an iPhone admiring a Pixel device before breaking into a musical number inspired by the film. During the lighthearted performance, the iPhone praises the Pixel, crediting it with innovations that Apple later adopted. Google highlights features such as call screening, AI-powered photo clean-up tools, and a conversational virtual assistant, emphasizing that Pixel users enjoyed these functionalities long before they appeared on iPhones.

Unlike traditional tech ads that dive into specifications, this campaign leans heavily on humor and theatrics. Despite the singing smartphones and playful tone, Google has produced over 30 installments in the series since its 2023 debut, steadily building a following among Pixel enthusiasts. Apple has so far avoided publicly responding to the tongue-in-cheek campaign, while Google continues positioning the Pixel as the more innovative device—sometimes using show tunes to get the message across.

Highlighting AI and Productivity Tools

Alongside its playful marketing, Google is also spotlighting practical AI tools. Josh Woodward, Vice President at Google Labs and Gemini, recently sparked a new social media trend by posting an infographic-style version of his LinkedIn profile on X. The post highlighted NotebookLM’s new Infographics tool, which allows users to transform LinkedIn profiles into visually appealing, shareable graphics.

Woodward praised the tool for delivering “crazy good” results and noted that many professionals are now following his lead, creating polished visual CVs for social media. The process is simple: download your LinkedIn profile as a PDF, upload it to NotebookLM’s web interface, make minor tweaks in the Infographic editor, and generate a ready-to-share image with minimal effort.

The Bigger Picture

Through its musical ads and AI-powered tools, Google is blending humor with practical innovation to engage consumers. The Pixel campaigns highlight unique features that set it apart from the iPhone, while tools like NotebookLM Infographics demonstrate Google’s focus on AI-driven productivity enhancements.

Overall, Google’s creative approach continues to emphasize its AI and software capabilities while reinforcing the Pixel’s image as a device that leads rather than follows in mobile innovation. The combination of playful marketing and functional AI tools reflects Google’s strategy to appeal both to tech enthusiasts and professionals seeking smarter, more efficient solutions.