A viral advertisement depicting artificially aged versions of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman has sparked discussion about the potential societal impact of artificial intelligence, particularly concerning the future of work and energy consumption. The 40-second video, released by Belgian AI video agency AiCandy, imagines a 2036 where a company called “Energym” utilizes human physical exertion – cycling and rowing classes – to generate power for AI systems.
The advertisement presents a dystopian scenario where automation has led to widespread job displacement. According to the AI-rendered Elon Musk in the video, “By 2030, almost 80% of people had lost their jobs.” Jeff Bezos’s AI counterpart adds that those displaced individuals lack both financial resources and a sense of purpose, but possess “a lot of time on their hands.” The solution proposed by Energym, as articulated by the AI versions of the tech leaders, is to harness human energy, effectively turning exercise into a power source.
The video has gained significant traction online, amassing over 4 million views on Instagram and widespread reposts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Even U.S. Senator Chris Murphy commented on the ad, stating, “Doesn’t feel like a parody of anything really.”
AiCandy founders Hans Buyse and Jan De Loore established their company in 2025, initially facing resistance from potential clients concerned about the energy consumption associated with AI video generation. “Their feedback was mainly that ‘it’s polluting, it’s consuming so much energy,’” De Loore explained. Buyse then conceived the idea of creating a video demonstrating a clean, human-powered energy alternative.
The concept lay dormant until recently, when De Loore suggested framing the advertisement around the aging tech executives. Buyse also noted the convergence of factors contributing to the video’s resonance, including “the fitness hype, and young men that don’t know what to do anymore with their lives.”
AiCandy has since received numerous collaboration requests, including a job offer from The Dor Brothers, another AI video production company. However, the founders indicated they are awaiting communication from Elon Musk himself. “We’re just awaiting Elon,” De Loore said.
Buyse expressed frustration with individuals profiting from reposts of the advertisement without permission. “They’re making profit off of it,” he stated.
