Coca-Cola released a new AI-generated Christmas advertisement in November 2025 and faced immediate criticism from viewers who called the visuals unsettling and out of step with the brand's traditional holiday imagery. The ad, produced with AI studios Silverside and Secret Level, depicts anthropomorphic animals watching red Coca-Cola delivery trucks arrive for the holidays.
Social media users reacted with widespread mockery, with many comparing the animation to a tech demo rather than a heartfelt holiday spot. Some commenters said they would switch to competing soft drink brands, and posts calling for a boycott circulated across platforms including X and Instagram in the days following release.
Viewers pointed to specific technical flaws, including uneven character movement and inconsistent lighting that produced an uncanny valley effect. Marketing commentators noted the reaction echoed criticism Coca-Cola received in 2024, when three earlier AI-generated Christmas ads were widely mocked online as cheap looking and inconsistent with the brand's polished production history.
Despite the repeated backlash, Coca-Cola proceeded with the 2025 campaign, signaling the company's continued investment in generative AI production tools even as consumer sentiment toward AI-made advertising remains largely negative. Industry surveys cited in coverage of the campaign found a plurality of consumers view AI-generated brand content unfavorably.
Coca-Cola has not withdrawn the ad or issued a formal apology in response to the criticism. Marketing trade coverage framed the episode as a case study in the gap between studio cost savings from AI production and audience reception of the resulting content, particularly for brands with strong nostalgic associations tied to the holiday season.
Source: Forbes -- https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2025/11/04/coca-cola-sparks-backlash-with-ai-generated-christmas-ad-again/