Google has released a new commercial that playfully imagines the US Founding Fathers utilising modern technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and Google Workspace, to draft the Declaration of Independence. The advertisement, launched in 2026, coincides with the 250th anniversary of the seminal document's signing, posing the question: What if Thomas Jefferson and his contemporaries had access to today's digital tools?
The tongue-in-cheek campaign, tagged "Group project, but make it 1776," visualises a collaborative process facilitated by Google's ecosystem. It depicts a fictionalised Thomas Jefferson receiving texts from Benjamin Franklin, leading to edits suggested in Google Docs, meetings scheduled via Google Calendar, and remote discussions held on Google Meet. The commercial even features the use of e-signatures to finalise the historic document.
In a nod to contemporary tech trends, AI plays a role in this historical reimagining. The ad shows the founders experimenting with Google's "help me visualise" AI tool to explore different animals for the national seal. Gemini, Google's AI chatbot, is portrayed taking notes during a virtual meeting, and also advising the founders before they decline King George III's hypothetical request for document access. Notably, the commercial steers clear of suggesting AI would improve the actual text of the Declaration itself, a departure from some previous Google AI advertisements.
The creative direction of the ad, which reportedly features AI-generated video footage, has elicited varied responses across social media platforms. While comments on YouTube and Instagram appear predominantly positive, the reception on Bluesky has been more critical. Users on the latter platform have described the commercial as "cringey" and "stunningly tone deaf," with the AI aspect drawing the most scrutiny. Historian Angus Johnston, among others, highlighted that despite the AI focus, "amazing how little of this is actually AI," questioning its presented utility.
Johnston further commented on the commercial's underlying message, stating, "Even in a corny fantasy joke, it’s impossible to make the case that AI is a useful tool for political organizing, writing, or human collaboration." This sentiment underscores a broader debate about the practical applications and perceived necessity of AI in creative and collaborative human endeavours.