Observed Signal · Jun 23, 2026 · Profile / Interview · Source: The Drum · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Native Foreign Founder Defends AI in Advertising
Nik Kleverov, founder of Los Angeles agency Native Foreign, discusses his role as a prominent advocate for AI-powered creativity in advertising in an interview with The Drum at Cannes Lions. Kleverov describes how the agency pivoted in 2022 after early access to OpenAI’s Dall‑E and how AI tools have become central to its storytelling and production work, while emphasizing that human creative skill remains essential. He outlines the agency’s AI-assisted feature film project Critters — developed with UK production company Vertigo and writers John Foster and James Lamont — and says OpenAI’s discontinuation of the Sora video model earlier this year forced adjustments to the pipeline. Kleverov argues AI will lower production barriers and expand opportunities for creatives despite controversy and personal backlash from some peers.
Highlights an agency-level business pivot toward generative AI and a high-profile AI-assisted film project, contributing to industry debate about AI's role in creative production but not a major platform policy or technical release.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Nik Kleverov is the founder of Native Foreign, a Los Angeles-based agency focused on AI creativity.
- Native Foreign pivoted in 2022 after gaining early access to OpenAI's Dall‑E image-generation model.
- Native Foreign has worked with OpenAI and Virgin Voyages and is developing a feature film called Critters with UK production company Vertigo and writers John Foster and James Lamont.
- OpenAI discontinued Sora, a video-generation model, earlier in 2026, which affected the production pipeline for the Critters project.
- Kleverov spoke about AI and creativity at Cannes Lions and argued AI will augment rather than replace human creatives.
Connected Companies & Entities
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