AI video ad generation: benchmark methods and results
Video models create complete eight-second vertical ads from five briefs. Both prompt conditions use text only, and Ben scores the unedited video; audio is excluded.
Reviewed 16 October 2026 · Tests and editorial direction: Ben Nancarrow · AI-assisted writing and checks.
The briefs span UGC, founder, lifestyle, explainer and product-demonstration formats. The shared contract requests an eight-second 9:16 video at 720×1280. No reference images are supplied because providers interpret them differently. Five briefs in two conditions produce ten outputs per run.
What changes between prompts
The simple and scaffolded prompts share the same task. The scaffold adds concise ad-anatomy guidance within the common prompt limit. Video duration, geometry and decodability are checked before the result is assessed; scoring playback is muted.
How the result is scored
Raw outputs are human-scored for product fidelity, copy accuracy, claims safety, brief compliance and craft quality. Each dimension must reach 8 for an output to clear the usability threshold. The displayed mean is a comparison measure; it can conceal a weak individual dimension. No editing pass is added before scoring.
All 3 reviewed model results
Human-rated video quality / 10
Model
Result / setup
Scored outputs
Configuration / recorded test date
Cost / scored output
Gemini Omni Flashprovisional
6.68/10Scaffolded prompt
10
default16 October 2026
Not recorded
Gen-4.5provisional
5.24/10Scaffolded prompt
10
default16 October 2026
Not recorded
Seedance 2provisional
4.56/10Scaffolded prompt
10
default16 October 2026
Not recorded
Recorded output counts can include repeats and both prompt conditions. Configurations and cost bases are retained; joint scores remain joint.
This record preserves the evidence and interpretation reviewed together. The live explorer can advance independently. Public results include provisional evidence; the methods above define what the scores measure.