Using five image ads and five video ads, models recommend how to develop a stronger next version. Ben scores the recommendation separately from the explanation of the original ad.
Reviewed 16 October 2026 · Tests and editorial direction: Ben Nancarrow · AI-assisted writing and checks.
The fixed pack contains five static images and five videos. Models see the media, with original filenames and account performance withheld. They receive no spend, conversion, reach or brand-context evidence. Analysis and creative recommendations are generated as separate outputs.
What changes between prompts
Each asset is tested with a simple and a scaffolded prompt. The analysis scaffold covers attention, product relevance, proof, platform fit and other creative mechanisms. The action scaffold asks what to preserve, what to change and why. The media remains identical between conditions.
How the result is scored
Action outputs are judged on the recommendation's creative and commercial quality, including coherence/commercial judgment as a critical dimension. These are ratings of the proposed next version. Neither the generated ad nor its subsequent campaign performance is tested in this task.
All 13 reviewed model results
Human-rated creative recommendation / 10
Model
Result / setup
Scored outputs
Configuration / recorded test date
Cost / scored output
Claude Opus 5provisional
9.47/10Scaffolded prompt
20
thinking_max16 October 2026
$0.118Recorded spend
Claude Opus 5.5provisional
9.43/10Scaffolded prompt
20
thinking_max16 October 2026
$0.573API-equivalent estimate
Google Gemini 4 Argonprovisional
9.33/10Simple prompt
20
high16 October 2026
$0.034Recorded spend
Gemini 3.7 Flashprovisional
9.22/10Scaffolded prompt
60
reasoning_high16 October 2026
$0.005Recorded spend
Meta Muse Wonderprovisional
9.03/10Simple prompt
20
max16 October 2026
$0.082Recorded spend
Gemini 3.5 Flashprovisional
9.01/10Scaffolded prompt
60
default16 October 2026
$0.005Recorded spend
Gemini 3.8 Flashprovisional
8.87/10Simple prompt
20
reasoning_high16 October 2026
$0.009Recorded spend
Claude Fable 5.1provisional
8.83/10Scaffolded prompt
20
thinking_max16 October 2026
$0.441API-equivalent estimate
Gemini 3.1 Pro Previewprovisional
8.78/10Scaffolded prompt
60
default16 October 2026
$0.007Recorded spend
Meta Muse Spark 1.3provisional
8.70/10Scaffolded prompt
20
high16 October 2026
$0.016Recorded spend
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Liteprovisional
8.23/10Scaffolded prompt
60
default16 October 2026
$0.001Recorded spend
GPT-6 Solprovisional
8.23/10Scaffolded prompt
20
xhigh16 October 2026
$0.022Recorded spend
GPT-6 Astraprovisional
8.03/10Scaffolded prompt
20
xhigh16 October 2026
$0.147Recorded spend
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.