Coca-Cola faced widespread public criticism over an AI-generated holiday advertisement that viewers described as soulless and lacking creativity. The promotional video was produced by three AI studios, Secret Level, Silverside AI, and Wild Card, using four different generative AI models to create the animated scenes.
The reaction spread across social media and was picked up by news outlets, making the campaign a frequently cited example of consumer resistance to AI-generated marketing. Critics focused on the visual quality of the generated footage and questioned the decision by a major brand to replace traditional production with machine-generated imagery for a flagship seasonal spot.
The Coca-Cola campaign was part of a broader 2026 pattern of brands drawing backlash for AI-generated ads. A McDonald's holiday spot produced with generative AI was similarly labeled as low quality by viewers, and several luxury brands faced criticism for surreal AI-generated video that audiences found off-putting.
Survey data cited in coverage of the trend indicated that 63 percent of consumers said they trust brands less when they suspect an advertisement was made with AI. That figure points to a reputational risk for companies weighing the cost savings of generative production against audience reaction.
The episodes reflect a shift in how audiences respond to AI in advertising. Rather than judging campaigns solely on message, viewers increasingly scan for signs of machine generation and react negatively when they detect it, a dynamic that brands now factor into creative decisions.
Source: AOL - https://www.aol.com/news/coca-cola-causes-controversy-ai-224425636.html