Kalshi’s NBA Finals ad costs just $2K using Google’s AI video tool

The betting platform Kalshi aired a fully AI-generated advertisement during the NBA Finals that cost just $2,000 to produce using Google’s text-to-video generator Veo 3. The 15-second spot showcases the growing accessibility of AI video creation tools and signals a potential shift toward AI-generated content in mainstream advertising.

What you should know: The ad was created by AI filmmaker PJ Accetturo in just 2-3 days, representing what he claims is a “95% cost reduction vs traditional ads.”

• The advertisement features surreal scenes including an elderly man in a cowboy hat carrying a chihuahua, someone swimming in a pool of eggs, and an alien drinking beer.
• These bizarre visuals highlight various betting options on Kalshi’s platform, from NBA Finals outcomes to hurricane predictions and egg price fluctuations.
• Accetturo required “300–400 generations to get 15 usable clips” from Veo 3.

How it works: The production process involved using AI tools at multiple stages to streamline video creation.

• Accetturo first wrote a script, then asked Google’s Gemini AI to generate a shot list with prompts for Veo 3.
• “I always tell it to return 5 prompts at a time—any more than that and the quality starts to slip,” Accetturo explained.
• The final editing was completed using standard video editing software like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Pro.

The big picture: This represents one of the first instances of AI-generated video content appearing in major television advertising during a high-profile sporting event.

• Veo 3 launched just weeks ago, yet it’s already being used for broadcast television commercials.
• The ad’s deliberately nonsensical style mirrors the “AI slop” videos that have become prevalent on social media platforms.
• Major tech companies including Amazon, Meta, and Netflix are developing AI tools specifically for advertisers.

Why this matters: The successful broadcast of this AI-generated ad during the NBA Finals demonstrates how quickly AI video generation is moving from experimental technology to practical commercial application.

• The dramatic cost reduction could democratize video advertising for smaller businesses while potentially disrupting traditional production companies.
• As AI-generated content becomes harder to distinguish from human-created material, viewers may increasingly encounter AI-produced advertisements without realizing it.