A Canadian bagel chain has stirred controversy by using artificial intelligence to replicate Joe Rogan’s voice in promoting their new vegan sandwich, leaving fans of the popular podcast host bewildered.
Kettlemans Bagel, known for their traditional bagel offerings, launched a marketing campaign for their “Konscious Sandwich” featuring a convincingly generated AI voice of Rogan praising their vegan creation, which includes plant-based salmon and dairy-free cream cheese.
In the advertisement circulating on Instagram, the AI-generated Rogan voice enthusiastically declares, “The Kettleman’s Conscious Sandwich is probably one of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever, ever tasted.” The synthetic voice continues, “It’s packed with enough plant-based protein to make even the most die-hard carnivore question their life choices.”
The marketing choice has particularly confused Rogan’s fanbase, given his well-known preference for meat-based diets. The podcast host has previously participated in World Carnivore Month, making the endorsement of a vegan product seem particularly out of character.
Social media users quickly pointed out the disconnect, with many questioning the legality and ethics of using AI-generated voice technology for advertising. “Wow AI Rogan for advertising. Is this legal?” one Instagram user commented. Another noted, “Plant based I knew it was AI. Joe Rogan would never say that.”
The advertisement doesn’t explicitly disclose that the voice is AI-generated, leading to further concerns from viewers. Despite numerous fans tagging Rogan and requesting clarification, neither the podcast host nor Kettlemans have publicly addressed the controversy surrounding the campaign.
The company also shared a UFC-themed meme featuring Rogan, claiming their gluten-free bagel had gained attention from ESPN announcers, further adding to the marketing campaign’s unconventional approach.
