Coca-Cola has defended its 2025 Christmas commercial after facing criticism for using generative AI to create the ad. The beverage company says the technology helps it rethink how it creates and scales content. According to Newsweek, social media users quickly labeled the ad as „AI slop“ and an „eyesore.“
AI-Generated Holiday Campaign Draws Fire
The new commercial features anthropomorphic animals reacting to a Coca-Cola truck traveling across the globe. Santa Claus appears as the only human, based on the company’s original drawings. This marks the second year Coca-Cola has used AI for its holiday ad.
Pratik Thakar, global VP and head of generative AI at Coca-Cola, told The Hollywood Reporter the ad is „ten times better“ than last year’s version. He said the company cannot keep everyone happy but believes the approach is worth it if most consumers respond positively. Thakar noted that last year critics targeted the craftsmanship.
Social Media Users Call for Boycott
The ad sparked swift backlash online. One X post viewed over 14 million times noted Coca-Cola used even fewer people to make this year’s ad. Another user wrote that the multibillion-dollar company should pay real animators instead of using AI.
Some social media users pledged to stop buying Coca-Cola products. One person committed to not purchasing any Coke in 2026. Another joked that the „zero“ in Coke Zero refers to the number of human creatives the company wants to employ.
Company Stands by Creative Choice
Coca-Cola released a statement saying last year’s campaign set a global milestone as the first entirely AI-created film on broadcast media. The company called this year’s campaign another proof point in its journey with emerging technology. The brand used music from its original 1955 commercial for the 2024 ad.
Critics compared the new commercial unfavorably to Coca-Cola’s warm 1990s holiday ads. The debate highlights growing tensions around AI use in creative industries. The controversy comes as companies face pressure over mass layoffs linked to AI technology.
