Gucci's divisive AI ads aren't budget 'slop.' They're a play for cultural relevance.

A black leather canvas Gucci Horsebit bag.

Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

• Gucci's use of AI-generated images ahead of its Milan runway show has sparked debate.
• Social media users have called the images "tacky" and "cheap."
• Experts say this is a strategic move by Gucci to blend fashion, art, and technology.

Gucci's new AI-generated ads have hit a nerve online.

The renderings — including a glamorous woman in a fur coat striding through a restaurant, a pair...