Coca-Cola's AI-Generated Holiday Ad Sparks Controversy and Backlash
21 Sources
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Coca-Cola responds to backlash over AI-generated Christmas ad:...
Coca-Cola has issued a statement after copping huge backlash for creating an AI-generated Christmas commercial that fans labelled "disastrous." Paying homage to the iconic drink's 1995 "Holidays Are Coming" campaign, the new 15-second advert depicts a fleet of cherry red trucks driving down a
[2]
Coca-Cola's 'real magic' holiday ad, made with artificial intelligence, sparks backlash
Coca-Cola's annual holiday commercial has dropped, but many consumers and artists aren't thrilled with its artificial-intelligence production. Coca-Cola launched its holiday commercial, "The Holiday Magic is coming." on Monday. The 30-second video is a tribute to the company's 1995 holiday
[3]
Coca-Cola causes controversy with AI-generated ad
The video was meant to pay homage to a classic 1995 Coca-Cola commercial. Coca-Cola is facing backlash online over an artificial intelligence-made Christmas promotional video that users are calling "soulless" and "devoid of any actual creativity." The AI-made video features everything from big
[4]
Coca-Cola's A.I.-Generated Holiday Ads Receive Backlash
The company's nostalgia-filled commercials are a holiday tradition, but this year's ads are facing backlash for dipping into the uncanny valley. With temperatures dropping, nights growing longer and decorations starting to appear in store windows, the holidays are on their way. One of the season's
[5]
Coca-Cola ripped for 'ugly' AI-generated Christmas commercial:...
AI is coming to town this holiday season -- and soda lovers aren't feeling festive about it. Coca-Cola is receiving backlash online after creating an AI-generated Christmas commercial, which has been slammed as a "creepy dystopian nightmare." Paying homage to Coca-Cola's 1995 "Holidays Are
[6]
Coca-Cola's AI-generated holiday ad falls flat with consumers
"It's less festive, more creepy holiday vibes," said one person on TikTok. You can't generate the holiday spirit with artificial intelligence -- at least, according to social media. On Nov. 12, the brand dropped its latest "Holidays Are Coming" commercial. Since 1995, the holiday-themed ads
[7]
Has Coca-Cola's AI ad destroyed the spirit of Christmas?
Coca-Cola's new AI-generated Christmas ad has sparked significant online backlash, with critics labeling it "soulless" and lacking genuine creativity. Released recently, the video pays homage to the company's iconic 1995 "Holidays Are Coming" commercial but substitutes human actors with
[8]
Coca-Cola's New AI-Generated Holiday Ad Slammed as 'Soulless' and 'Embarrassing': 'This Is Such Slop' - IGN
When it comes to famous Christmas commercials, there aren't too many that are more iconic and nostalgic than Coca-Cola's 1995 "Holidays Are Coming" spot. The company's latest take on that ad, however, isn't inspiring the Christmas spirit in a lot of fans. You can watch the 16-second spot here,
[9]
People really don't like Coke's AI holiday commercial
AI-generated videos already proliferate on the internet -- and now brands are getting in on it. Coca-Cola "reinvented" an old-school holiday-time ad using artificial intelligence, and to say it's not exactly filling social media with good tidings of comfort and joy would be an understatement. The
[10]
Coke's AI Commercial for the Holidays Has Us Wondering If We Live In a Fallen World
Coke is cashing in on your nostalgia by remaking one of its best-known commercials with all new tech: generative AI. 'Tis the season indeed. The Coca-Cola Company's recently unveiled ad for the holidays is a twee callback to its 1995 ad "Holidays Are Coming," which for many has been a staple of
[11]
Coca-Cola turns to AI for its Christmas ad in 2025 -- sparking mixed reactions
Every year there are a few signs Christmas is coming including Mariah Carey's now infamous TikTok posts showing her "thawing out", houses strewn with festive lights and the iconic Coca-Cola red truck returning to TV screens. Coca-Cola's "Holidays Are Coming" commercial was first seen on TV screens
[12]
Coca-Cola Uses AI Video to 'Reimagine' Its Classic Christmas Ad
Coca-Cola has controversially remade its iconic Christmas ad featuring Santa and wintry scenes using artificial intelligence video tools. The soft drinks giant commissioned three companies to come up with an AI recreation of the ad and it's the version made by Secret Level that is on TV. The ad
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Coca-Cola's iconic 'Holidays Are Coming' ad is now a soulless and creepy dystopian nightmare made by AI
Coca-Cola CMO Javiet Mexa says, "we want to bring Holidays Are Coming into the present." Holidays are coming... but this time Coca-Cola has opted to strip the soul out of its iconic 1995 UK TV ad and use generative AI to recreate it. The 16-second ad, which is set to run in the UK instead of the
[14]
Coca-Cola's New Christmas Commercial Was Made With AI And Looks Bad
It's mid-November, which means it's practically Christmas according to every store I've entered lately. And as is tradition during November and December, our TV commercials are all Christmas-themed, too. There are some classics out there, but Coca-Cola's newest ad won't be joining those ranks as
[15]
AI Coke Ad Shows We'll Argue About Advertisements While the World Burns
Coca-Cola just revealed three new holiday ads created with generative AI. One for Coke Zero is on its YouTube page, unlisted. The comments below the video are a war zone. People hate the ad. They love the ad. As things turn to shit on the internet and real life, people are consumed with a conflict
[16]
Coca-Cola Airs AI-Made Holiday Ad to Tidings of Bad Cheer
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications are improving so rapidly they're making critics rethink their views on computer-made art. Only a year ago, skeptics pointed to AI's limited ability to produce drawings, images, movies, and other creative works as proof the technology will never
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Can we all just calm down about Coke's AI holiday commercials?
Subscribe to the Design newsletter.The latest innovations in design brought to you every weekday Overall consumer reaction, however, is less apocalyptic. Andrew Tindall, senior VP of global partnerships at market research firm System1 Group, posted on LinkedIn, "We've tested the new AI version
[18]
Someone Made a Deranged Version of Coke's AI Holiday Ad and It's Way Better
Coca-Cola drew criticism for rolling out an uninspired and lazily AI-generated holiday advertisement this year. The ad is pretty much exactly the kind of insipid corporate sludge you'd expect from AI: predictable, unimaginative and vaguely uncanny. Fortunately, Redditors took matters into their
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Coca-cola kills off Santa with AI Christmas advert
Brand says it had to adapt Holidays are Coming to 'today's times' but the 15-second ad still has the catchy soundtrack as the 1995 original Coca-cola solely used artificial intelligence to generate this year's Christmas advert instead of casting a person to play Santa Claus. The 15-second
[20]
Coca-Cola's AI-Generated Holiday Ads Approach A Creative Tipping Point
The Coca-Cola Company released three new AI-generated Holiday ads inspired by the beverage giant's classic 1995 "The Holidays Are Coming" commercial. Produced entirely with AI video models like Runway and Luma Dream Machine, this represents a step forward in photorealism for AI-generated video.
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Expert Available to Comment on AI-Generated Coca-C | Newswise
Coca-Cola's AI-generated Christmas ads have sparked a backlash from consumers, who feel that the commercials lack the authenticity and holiday magic of past years' human-generated ads. Now, a consumer behavior researcher at New York Institute of Technology explains why. "AI is a new territory for
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Coca-Cola's latest Christmas commercial, created using AI technology, has ignited a heated debate about the role of artificial intelligence in advertising and its impact on creativity and jobs in the industry.
Coca-Cola's AI-Generated Holiday Ad Stirs Controversy
Coca-Cola's latest holiday commercial, created using artificial intelligence (AI), has sparked widespread controversy and backlash from consumers and artists alike. The 15-second advertisement, paying homage to the company's iconic 1995 "Holidays Are Coming" campaign, features AI-generated imagery of Coca-Cola trucks driving through snowy landscapes
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.The AI-Generated Commercial
The new commercial, titled "The Holiday Magic is coming," was created using Coca-Cola's Real Magic AI platform, powered by OpenAI
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. The ad showcases cherry-red Coca-Cola trucks adorned with holiday lights, traveling through festively decorated towns. Unlike its 1995 predecessor, which featured human actors, the new version includes AI-generated polar bears and other animated elements2
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.Backlash and Criticism
The advertisement has faced significant criticism on social media platforms and in industry circles. Many viewers have described the commercial as "creepy," "soulless," and a "dystopian nightmare"
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. Critics argue that the ad lacks the warmth and emotion typically associated with holiday commercials and Coca-Cola's brand4
.Artists and creative professionals have expressed concerns about the potential impact of AI on jobs in the advertising and creative industries. Alex Hirsch, creator of Disney's "Gravity Falls," sarcastically commented that Coca-Cola's red color comes from "the blood of out-of-work artists"
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.Coca-Cola's Response and Rationale
Despite the backlash, Coca-Cola has defended its use of AI technology. The company states that the commercial was created through a collaboration between human storytellers and AI
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. Pratik Thakar, Coca-Cola's vice president and global head of generative AI, emphasized the benefits of using AI in terms of cost savings and production speed1
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.Jason Zada, founder of Secret Level, one of the AI studios involved in the project, argued that there is still a significant human component in creating the "warmth" in the clip
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. Coca-Cola views this initiative as a way to bridge its heritage with future technology4
.Related Stories
Broader Implications for AI in Advertising
This controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the role of AI in creative industries. While some see AI as a tool to enhance creativity and efficiency, others worry about its potential to replace human artists and diminish the emotional quality of creative work
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.Coca-Cola is not alone in experimenting with AI in advertising. Other companies, such as Toys "R" Us, have also faced criticism for using AI-generated content in their commercials
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. As the technology continues to evolve, the industry will likely grapple with finding the right balance between technological innovation and preserving the human touch in creative endeavors.Consumer Reaction and Future Outlook
While some consumers have expressed excitement about the potential of AI in advertising, many remain skeptical
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. The backlash against Coca-Cola's AI-generated ad suggests that there may be a gap between technological capabilities and consumer expectations, particularly for emotionally resonant content like holiday advertisements4
.As AI technology continues to advance, it remains to be seen how companies like Coca-Cola will navigate the delicate balance between innovation and maintaining the emotional connection with their audience that has been a hallmark of their advertising for decades
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