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Meta AI ad uses Bowie song
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Meta's AI ad using David Bowie's "Five Years" drew mixed reactions online in September 2026.
The song is about Earth's destruction, so some fans find the pairing grim.
Background
Meta released its "The Future is for Everyone" AI commercial in July 2026. The ad uses David Bowie's "Five Years" as its soundtrack. The song, the opening track to Ziggy Stardust, is about humanity learning that life on Earth will end in five years. Bowie regularly allowed his music to be used in ads.
How it unfolded
- Jul 2026Meta released its "The Future is for Everyone" AI commercial.
- Sep 9, 2026W. Gene Powell posted about the Meta AI commercial and its use of Bowie's "Five Years".
- Sep 10, 2026Meta AI's "Five Years" ad campaign sparks concern; a post notes the ad has been popping up on YouTube; a Reddit r/Music post titled "Bowie in a Meta Ad - Sad" appears.
- Sep 11, 2026Will Pfeifer posted liking the new Meta AI ad; Madeline Sensibile-Yazzetta posted that the song on a Meta AI "optimism" ad makes her sad; Zgyuun on X posted that the ad is horrendous.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Will Pfeifer likes the new Meta AI ad that uses Bowie's "Five Years" as its theme.
- Caution
- Madeline Sensibile-Yazzetta says "'Five Years' Bowie on a Meta AI 'optimism' ad makes me sad. Hope they know the song is about the earth being destroyed but k. Grim!!!!"
- Caution
- Zgyuun on X says "That meta ai ad using a David Bowie song is horrendous oh my god im tired of seeing it on YouTube."