Coca-Cola's iconic Christmas ad goes viral for all the wrong reasons: 'Appalled and disgusted'

For decades, the Coca-Cola “Holidays Are Coming” ad has been, for many around the world, the nostalgic signal that Christmas has officially arrived (much like how the iconic “Chubhti Jalti Garmi” Dermi Cool ad heralds the start of summer for many Indians.) But this year, the beloved tradition has sparked controversy. The reason? The latest installment was created using AI.

What is the Coca-Cola Christmas AI ad?

Coca-Cola has sparked criticism online after releasing a Christmas ad created using artificial intelligence, with some viewers calling it a “creepy dystopian nightmare.”?

Check out the ad here:

Inspired by Coca-Cola’s iconic 1995 “Holidays Are Coming” campaign, the 15-second clip shows a fleet of bright red trucks traveling through snowy streets to deliver bottles of cola to a festively adorned town.

A small on-screen disclaimer reveals the ad was “created by Real Magic AI,” referring to Coca-Cola’s AI tool.?

The original 1995 ad, beloved for its nostalgic charm, featured the now-famous Coca-Cola Christmas truck glowing with twinkling lights as it journeyed through snowy landscapes.?

Its memorable jingle, “Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming),” sung by Melanie Thornton, added to its enduring appeal.

Here's how people have been reacting:

Coca-Cola's response

Jason Zada, founder of the AI studio Secret Level, one of the three companies Coca-Cola partnered with for the project, defended the ad, emphasising that human creativity still plays a role in delivering the “warmth” audiences feel in the clip.?

He explained that creating a commercial with generative AI isn’t as simple as pushing a button.

Pratik Thakar, Coca-Cola’s Vice President and Global Head of Generative AI, shared that the campaign aimed to blend the brand’s legacy with modern technology.?

“Speed is I would say five times, right? And that is a huge benefit. The production time would have taken, traditionally, much longer. So that is a huge benefit,” he explained.?

However, the backlash to the ad underscores an important point: there are certain traditions and emotional connections that people deeply value. In these cases, the human touch—the feelings and emotions it conveys—remains irreplaceable, reminding us that some things simply shouldn’t be left to AI.

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