Several major brands faced public criticism over AI-generated advertising in the 2025 and 2026 holiday seasons, with Coca-Cola and McDonald's among the most visible examples. The reaction centered on the artificial quality of the spots and the absence of emotional depth that audiences expect from holiday campaigns.
Coca-Cola released another AI-generated holiday ad in 2025 featuring animated animals admiring delivery trucks. While the production was technically improved over an earlier attempt, it still drew criticism online for looking artificial. The company had faced similar backlash the previous year over an AI-produced version of its long-running holiday campaign.
McDonald's encountered a sharper response in one market. The company's Netherlands division cancelled an AI-generated holiday advertisement after viewers described the imagery as unsettling and lacking emotional resonance. McDonald's removed the ad within three days of its launch in response to the feedback.
Marketing analysts point to a common thread across the incidents: brands that let AI lead creative decisions, rather than support them, tended to draw negative reactions. The episodes have fueled a broader debate over AI's role in advertising, with some marketers publicly stepping back from AI-first creative approaches after watching legacy brands stumble with emotionally charged campaigns.
Source: DesignRush -- https://news.designrush.com/7-worst-ai-advertising-backfires-2025