Google Australia has unveiled two cinematic brand films that bring artificial intelligence out of the abstract and into daily life, showing its potential to tackle urgent health challenges. Directed by Sanjay De Silva of DIVISION and created with agency R/GA, the campaign illustrates how Google AI is supporting doctors, researchers and scientists in their work against diabetic eye disease and hearing loss.
The first film, The Sidelines, follows a doctor in regional Australia using Google’s AI model for diabetic retinopathy screening. The technology enables early detection of diabetic eye disease — one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide — with results available in moments, expanding access to specialist-level care in underserved communities.
The second, The Dining Table, portrays researchers applying Google AI to refine hearing devices. Traditional aids amplify all sound, making conversation difficult in noisy settings. By using AI models to prioritise voices over background noise, the project aims to improve connection and communication for people living with hearing loss.
The campaign, part of Google’s “More’s Possible” platform, integrates the company’s $1 billion Digital Future Initiative in Australia. Beyond healthcare, this investment supports projects in environmental conservation, including AI systems that analyse the calls of endangered species and monitor fragile ecosystems like Tasmania’s kelp forests.
AI also played a role in the films’ production: Google’s generative tools created photorealistic backgrounds and subtle enhancements, replacing on-location shoots without detracting from the human stories. To reinforce authenticity, actors with lived experience of diabetes and hearing loss were cast in key roles.
“Whether it’s preventing vision loss or improving hearing aids, this campaign shows what’s possible when researchers team up with Google AI,” said Suzana Ristevski, Google’s CMO for Australia and New Zealand. Director Sanjay De Silva added that the films were designed to feel “subtle, cinematic and emotionally grounded,” placing the focus on people rather than the technology itself.
Launched nationally on 7 September 2025, the campaign will run across broadcast, YouTube, out-of-home, streaming platforms, and a partnership with The Voice, amplifying the reach of Google’s hearing initiative.
