TLDR: Coca-Cola has once again faced significant backlash from netizens over its entirely AI-generated Christmas holiday advertisement for 2025. This marks the second consecutive year the beverage giant has utilized artificial intelligence for its festive campaign, drawing criticism for perceived lack of soul and potential job displacement in the creative industry, despite the company’s defense of improved AI craftsmanship.
Coca-Cola has found itself at the center of a fresh controversy following the release of its entirely AI-generated Christmas holiday advertisement for 2025. The ad, which features the iconic Coca-Cola trucks, the familiar “Holidays are Coming” chant, anthropomorphic animals, and Santa Claus, has been met with widespread criticism online, echoing a similar backlash from its 2024 AI-generated campaign.
The advertisement was developed by Los Angeles-based AI studio Secret Level, with another version produced by Silverside. According to reports, this year’s production involved even fewer human creatives, reportedly dropping from 50 to 20, a move that has fueled concerns among the creative industry about job security and the impact of AI on traditional artistry.
Pratik Thakar, Coca-Cola’s global vice president and head of generative AI, defended the company’s approach, stating that the craftsmanship of the 2025 ad is “10 times better” than its predecessor. Thakar emphasized Coca-Cola’s commitment to AI, asserting, “The genie is out of the bottle, and you’re not going to put it back in.” Jason Zada, founder and chief creative officer of Secret Level, attributed much of the online negativity to “haters” from the creative industry who are “afraid for their jobs.”
However, netizens have been vocal in their disapproval, labeling the ad as “soulless,” “lifeless,” and “AI slop.” Many expressed disappointment that the AI-generated content lacked the emotional depth and warmth traditionally associated with Coca-Cola’s holiday campaigns, with some commenting, “Remember when they paid real animators to make commercials with heart? Now it’s soulless AI.” The irony of Coca-Cola’s long-standing slogan, “it’s always the real thing,” in conjunction with an AI-generated ad, was also highlighted by critics. Some online users have gone as far as calling for a boycott of Coca-Cola products, suggesting they would switch to competitors like Pepsi.
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Despite the company’s claims of improved quality, some viewers reported visual glitches in the ad, such as inconsistent truck designs with extra wheels or misplaced axles. While online sentiment appears largely negative, a research firm, System1, suggested that for the 2024 campaign, private audience reactions were more positive than the public online commentary indicated. Nevertheless, the ongoing debate underscores a growing tension between brands embracing AI for efficiency and scale, and creators concerned about its impact on human creativity and employment.
