Warner Bros. uses AI dog podcast to promote ‘The End of Oak Street’

Warner Bros. is taking a different approach in promoting “The End of Oak Street”  by letting AI-generated dogs do the talking.

The studio has teamed up with “DogPack,” an AI-powered dog podcast, for a one-minute promotional video featuring an animated interview tied to the upcoming sci-fi action film. 

The clip is hosted by Goldie, an AI golden retriever, and Frenchie, an AI French bulldog, who are part of the scripted podcast that explores how dogs might see and think about the world from their own perspective.

Their guest is Starbuck, the dog who plays Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor’s pet in “The End of Oak Street.” Like the podcast’s hosts, Starbuck is brought to life through AI-generated animation.

Naturally, the conversation includes a playful exchange about Starbuck’s famous human co-stars. Frenchie asks which of them was “the best trained,” prompting Starbuck to give a very dog-like answer: “Ewan McGregor was excellent with treats. Anne Hathaway matched him there, but she could scratch behind both ears at once. Game over!”

Starbuck also gives audiences a glimpse of what to expect from his character in the film, teasing plenty of running and dinosaur-dodging as his family fights to survive the high-stakes ordeal. He also hints at the important role he plays alongside his human owner as they navigate the chaos.

But when Starbuck is asked the question fans will likely want answered most — whether he actually survives the dinosaur-filled adventure — the AI dog refuses to reveal the outcome. “No more spoiler,” Starbuck says, leaving audiences to watch “The End of Oak Street” themselves to find out what happens to him.

Warner Bros. shared the clip across its social media accounts, where the unusual AI experiment quickly became a talking point of its own.

On Instagram, reactions ranged from excitement over the collaboration to outright criticism of the studio’s use of AI. One commenter called the video “the opposite of a promotion,” while another questioned, “So is this an AI movie or???” 

Some viewers went even further, saying the AI-generated promotional video was enough to convince them not to watch the film.

Facebook users appeared more receptive to the concept. While the post still attracted some negative and critical comments, others praised the idea. One user described it as “the best use of AI,” while others said the clip made them more curious about Starbuck’s character and kept them interested in seeing the film.

The mixed response comes as Hollywood continues to grapple with the growing presence of artificial intelligence. While AI has become increasingly prominent in filmmaking, entertainment companies have also been experimenting with partnerships centered on the technology. 

Still, it remains relatively uncommon for a major studio to so openly feature AI-generated visuals in its marketing, making Warner Bros.’ collaboration with “DogPack” a standout promotional move.

Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, “The End of Oak Street” follows a suburban family whose neighborhood is suddenly thrust into a strange and dangerous world, where they must fight to survive a horde of dinosaurs.

Hathaway and McGregor lead the cast, which also includes Maisy Stella, Christian Convery, Jordan Alexa Davis and P.J. Byrne. 

“The End of Oak Street” arrives in Philippine cinemas on August 12, with the film opening in US theaters on August 14.