This NRI brand created a prime time TV ad for just $20 using AI

For decades, television advertising has carried a reputation for big budgets, sprawling crews, and glossy production. But what happens when the entire process, from scripting to visuals to post-production, can be compressed into a fraction of the cost and time, without losing impact?

That’s the question Abound, a super money app built exclusively for Indian expatriates in the U.S., sets out to answer. Backed by The Times of India Group, Abound helps Indians abroad send, spend, save, and invest with ease while offering competitive exchange rates, automated cashback at 4,000+ Indian grocery stores across the U.S., and now, it is making waves in another arena altogether– brand storytelling.

In a first-of-its-kind move, Abound produced a full-fledged TV commercial for just $20 using artificial intelligence as the backbone of the entire creative process.

From script development supported by ChatGPT, to visuals generated through Google Veo 3, to voice work enhanced with ElevenLabs, the campaign bypassed the conventional machinery of ad production. Instead, it focused on clarity of thought, narrative sharpness, and a bold willingness to experiment. Editing and final stitching were handled by Abound’s internal team.

The result? A proof-of-concept film that reframes what’s possible in advertising.

“What used to cost tens of thousands of dollars now requires only $20 — and a clear point of view,” says Arjunveer Singh, Head of Brand at Abound. The ad isn’t just a showcase of new technology, but a statement: in an age where AI democratises creative tools, the story you tell matters more than the polish of the production.


The experiment is also timely. “Across industries, marketers are asking how AI will reshape their craft. Abound’s initiative provides one answer: when paired with strategic clarity, AI can help brands punch above their weight creatively while dramatically lowering barriers to execution,” says Vivek Girotra, VP of Marketing at Abound.

For marketers, the message resonates far beyond one campaign: the tools will only get sharper from here. As one industry observer put it, “This is the worst this tech will ever be.” The question is, who else is ready to embrace what’s next?

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Abound by Times Internet’s Spotlight team