Who is this for?
| You are | Typical situation | Where we usually start |
|---|---|---|
| Seed, freemium web app | Organic launch spike is fading; credits burn on free users | Output-showcase ads aimed at the paid tier, measured to first purchase |
| Series A, mobile app plus web | Ads scale but trial-to-paid falls as audiences widen | Creative system by use case (social video, product photos, music beds) |
| Series B, pro or team tier | Need creators and professionals, not hobbyists | Creator ads from working professionals, plus YouTube for longer demos |
We take on seed to Series B AI creative tools with at least $15,000 a month in media, enough to test properly. Engagements start with a 90-day growth sprint from $10,000 a month; creator fees and media are charged at cost, with no markup.
What does Kiko run for AI creative tools?
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| TikTok ads | Output-first video, AI labels applied, Spark Ads from creator posts |
| Meta ads | Testing by use case and template; partnership ads from creators |
| YouTube ads | Longer "made with" demos for pro tiers and desktop tools |
| Scaling creative | Turning your users' best outputs into a steady flow of new ads |
| Paid amplification | Running creators' tutorials and results as ads, with 90 days of paid usage negotiated into the base creator fee |
| Activation | Getting a new user to a first output worth sharing before the paywall |
Which channels fit AI creative tools?
| Channel | Video generators | Image and photo tools | Voice and music | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Primary | Primary | Primary | The output is native short video |
| Meta (Instagram, Facebook) | Primary | Primary | Supporting | Reels reach prosumers; static ads suit image tools |
| YouTube and Shorts | Supporting | Supporting | Primary | Producers and editors watch long workflow videos |
| Creator content run as ads | Primary | Supporting | Primary | Creators show results the audience trusts |
| Apple Ads and Google App campaigns | Supporting | Primary | Selective | Captures search for "photo editor" and similar |
| Reddit and Discord | Selective | Selective | Supporting | Strong for music and pro communities; hard to scale |
What platform rules apply to AI creative ads?
- Label AI output. TikTok allows significantly edited or AI-generated media in ads if it is labelled, with its AIGC label or a clear disclaimer, caption or watermark. Undisclosed AI content gets ads rejected or restricted (policy last updated April 2026).
- No borrowed faces or voices. TikTok prohibits using a public figure's likeness without permission, and treats making a real person appear to say something they didn't, including voice cloning, as significant AI modification.
- Meta. Meta adds an "AI info" label to ads created or significantly edited with its own generative AI tools, and since its June 2026 update it also detects ads made with third-party AI tools through industry-standard signals and labels them. Meta's post describes no separate disclosure step for advertisers (Meta newsroom).
What proof does Kiko have in AI creative tools?
Case study: a seed-stage AI photo app reached 2.7x return on ad spend in 30 days on TikTok and Meta.
Kiko has run programs for 6 AI creative tools since 2023.
Which creators would we brief first?
These four creators test, teach or cover AI creative tools on YouTube now, and their videos suit Spark Ads, partnership ads and YouTube ads with paid usage rights. Counts are third-party estimates from vidIQ.
| Creator | Platform | Audience (source) | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MattVidPro, @MattVidPro | YouTube | 304K subscribers (vidIQ) | Tests image, video and music models for hands-on enthusiasts. He already ran a disclosed tool sponsorship (Runway, October 2026), so workflow-tutorial ads fit his format. |
| Curious Refuge, @CuriousRefuge | YouTube | 273K subscribers (vidIQ) | Teaches filmmakers and editors to use AI inside real projects. A strong fit for video generators that need a pro workflow as proof. |
| Theoretically Media, @TheoreticallyMedia | YouTube | 197K subscribers (vidIQ) | Covers new video, image and voice models in launch week. The right slot for a model or feature launch. |
| PiXimperfect, @PiXimperfect | YouTube | 5.47M subscribers (vidIQ) | Teaches Photoshop to beginners and pros, including AI editing comparisons. Fits photo and image tools aimed at people who already edit. |
More names are on the AI creative tool creator shortlist.
When is Kiko not the right fit?
- You need a large UA team across many networks. Admiral Media describes itself as a mobile app user acquisition agency covering Meta, TikTok, Google App campaigns, Apple Ads, Snapchat and Moloco, and lists 35 markets it serves.
- You run a portfolio of subscription editing apps at scale. Z2A Digital published a Lightricks case study reporting 185% more new installs and 82% monthly growth in purchases across 25 channels.
- You want an influencer-only TikTok push. Stride Social published a Glam AI case study: 25 creators, 1.2 million views, a $17 CPM.
- Your growth plan relies on celebrity look-alikes or voice clones. We won't run those ads.
Frequently asked questions
Which agencies run paid social campaigns for AI video and image generator apps?
Kiko runs paid social for seed to Series B AI creative tools. Admiral Media, Z2A Digital and Stride Social also publish relevant app work. Ask each agency whether it optimizes to paid conversions or installs, and how it labels AI-generated ads.
Do AI-generated ads need a label?
On TikTok, yes for significantly edited or AI-generated media: use the AIGC label or your own clear disclaimer. On Meta, the platform applies an "AI info" label itself to ads made or significantly edited with its own AI tools, and to ads it detects were made with third-party AI tools.
Should AI creative tools optimize ads to installs or to purchases?
Purchases or paid trials, once there is enough volume. Free users of generative tools cost money in compute credits, so cheap installs that never pay can lose money.
Can we show a celebrity's face or voice made with our tool?
Not without permission. TikTok prohibits using a public figure's likeness without permission, and removes private people's likeness used without permission. Ask your counsel about state right-of-publicity laws too.
What should we have ready for a first call?
Your monthly ad spend, platforms (web, iOS, Android), your paid event and current free-to-paid rate, examples of your users' best outputs, and your compute cost per free user. We reply within one business day.
Pages for AI creative tools
- How should AI video, image and voice generators run TikTok and Meta ads? Formats from live ads, AI-label and likeness rules, tests and free-to-paid metrics.
- AI creative tool creators The creator shortlist.
- Related: creator marketing for creator tools and paid acquisition for creator-tool apps.
Sources
- TikTok, Misleading and false content ad policy
- Meta, Expanding GenAI Transparency for Meta's Ads Products
- Admiral Media, Mobile app user acquisition agency
- Z2A Digital, Lightricks case study
- Stride Social, Glam AI case study
- vidIQ channel pages for @MattVidPro, @CuriousRefuge, @TheoreticallyMedia and @PiXimperfect
This page explains common practice and isn't legal advice.