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The door flew open, and in walked trouble…

Creativity & Culture
AI is not creative. You are.

June 13, 2024

AI is a lot like a good story—it sparks the imagination, evokes genuine awe, and even inspires our own creativity. And this year, in celebration of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, we asked creators from around the world to use AI to craft a unique story in Microsoft Copilot. The only catch was that they had to include the iconic film-noir line: “The door flew open, and in walked trouble …”

So, what happens when trouble walks in? It travels through science fiction, graphic novels, and even the inner world of the subconscious … into the attic, across the world, or out of this world entirely. Trouble overcomes its fears, undermines stereotypes, and reinvents itself. And as many times as trouble makes an entrance, it’s never quite the same. The vision of each creator, and where their imagination takes them, shows how the true power of AI is within you!

…and see what happens next

Explore the gallery and click on images to discover the prompts and stories that inspired them.

A woman’s journey through her subconscious

A surreal scene with a woman walking on a path surrounded by sand, floating heads, and spheres, leading to a large arched portal with a misty backdrop.

Achy Breaky Trouble

A cartoonish, pink boot with a lightning bolt, wide eyes, and an open mouth bursts through double doors. The room has wooden walls and flamingo decorations. Two flamingos stand in the foreground.

Catnip Couture

A cat, dressed in human clothes and holding a basket, walks through an open door into a brightly lit, modern home.

Wild Flower

An open door reveals a fantastical, vibrant floral scene with various colorful plants extending from inside to the wood floor outside the door. The surrounding room is plain with muted tones.

Welcome to Adulting

A chaotic, colorful scene of a kitchen and bathroom mixed together with flowing rainbows, water flooding, and various household items strewn about, under a sign reading "Welcome to Adulting.

Inner thoughts

A person crouches in fog as another figure stands silhouetted in a doorway. Ghostly hands reach from the walls towards the crouching person.

More stories

Gone to the dogs

A six-panel comic shows two dogs running indoors, breaking a vase with flowers. A woman initially greets the dogs and later reacts to the mess made by the vase's shattered glass and scattered flowers.

The Big Opportunity

Abstract image with the text: "each challenge a hidden key unlocking growth's secret room" against a background of blue, red, and white geometric shapes.

Open Doors. Invite Trouble.

A person with glasses sculpts a clay rabbit at a table in a well-lit room with various pottery items on shelves and a large window to the left.

Whirlwind Dreams

A dynamic swirl of various colorful flowers and petals against a dark background, creating a visually striking tornado-like formation.

The Anti-Trouble Bubble

Person wearing a large inflatable bubble-like suit standing in a subway train doorway, with passengers seated inside the train.

The Entrapment of Indulgence 

An overflowing, brightly lit closet spills clothes and shoes into a dimly lit room, creating a dramatic and chaotic scene.

AI is not creative. You are.

It’s your turn! Bring your story to life with Microsoft Copilot—whether you try out the line above and make it your own, or start from scratch.

Knowing where to start can be daunting. So here’s a formula to help create the best prompt for your unique vision.

theme
image type
style
lighting
subject
context
details

Don’t be afraid to play. Swap out words, add more descriptions, and make it personal.

Try it now