Coca-Cola's effort to remake its classic holiday advertising with generative artificial intelligence drew renewed criticism in 2025, becoming one of the more visible examples of consumer pushback against AI produced marketing. The company had reimagined its 1995 Holidays Are Coming campaign using AI for two consecutive seasons, and its latest version featured anthropomorphic animals, including polar bears, pandas, and sloths, admiring the brand's delivery trucks.
While observers noted the newer spot was technically improved over the prior year's attempt, it still attracted criticism for what many viewers described as an artificial, uncanny quality. The reaction added to a growing wave of skepticism toward AI generated advertising among audiences who say the format lacks the warmth and craft of traditional productions.
The episode was widely covered in marketing and business press as a case study in the risks of leaning on generative tools for high profile brand campaigns. Coverage noted that some consumers have begun labeling low quality AI visuals with dismissive terms, and that backlash has prompted several brands to reconsider their approach.
The response has been strong enough that some competitors are positioning against the trend. Brands including Almond Breeze and Equinox have launched campaigns that mock AI generated ads, and iHeartMedia adopted a guaranteed human tagline promising it would not use AI generated personalities or music. The developments illustrate how audience reaction, rather than the technology itself, is now shaping decisions about where AI belongs in marketing.
Source: DesignRush - https://news.designrush.com/7-worst-ai-advertising-backfires-2025