Coca Cola Faces Massive Backlash Over New AI-Generated Christmas Advert

A still from Coca Cola’s new Christmas advert

Coca Cola has spoken out after facing backlash for using generative AI in its Christmas advertising this year.

Last year, the drinks brand – whose annual festive clips are considered by many to be a major part of the holiday season – was met with criticism when it unveiled a series of ad spots that were made using artificial intelligence.

Despite the controversy, Coca Cola has once again gone ahead with AI-generated video for its 2025 ads, which was created entirely with these tools.

Coca-Cola’s annual Christmas advert is AI-generated again this year.

The company says they used even fewer people to make it — “We need to keep moving forward and pushing the envelope… The genie is out of the bottle, and you’re not going to put it back in” pic.twitter.com/g1dogxS8Tq

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 3, 2025

Again, the ad has come under fire on social media for a variety of reasosns.

In addition to highlighting the ethical issues of relying on artificial intelligence rather than human creators, many have also lambasted the quality of the finished product, comparing it unfavourably to other similar clips made by real animators.

Flexing that you put even more people out of a job is CRAZY, especially when this isn’t some metaphorical genie and is a technology forcing slop onto people

— Jack (-_•) (@captaincupkicks) November 3, 2025

And surprise surprise it still looks horrendous. A company that earn 47 billion in revenue in 2024 can’t be assed to pay a few million to a team of talented artists? It’s not ‘pushing the envelope’, it’s greed.

— Autumnmmn (@Autumnmmnm) November 3, 2025

Consider this: it looks bad https://t.co/ncXuivln4j

— alxndr (@alexaldente) November 3, 2025

good job it looks terrible 👍🏻 https://t.co/h3DxLty3Oq

— ModernGurlz (@ModernGurlzz) November 3, 2025

the concept of making a christmas ad which in itself is about loving & giving while not loving or giving to real human workers https://t.co/mGM8M21YQR pic.twitter.com/kyEFuTPII4

— 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝒸 🎃ﾒ𝟶 | SAW ABEL!!! (@XOpeningNight) November 4, 2025

this is disgusting. you’re a multiBILLION dollar company. pay REAL animators. this is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/oX7AKkKEKr

— kenny (@relientkenny) November 3, 2025

This is insane.
This 2006 Coca Cola Ad directed by Nagi Noda, with music by Jack White, aired just once. This is all shot on film in a single take with no CGI, all the snapshots are all real similar actors standin still. pic.twitter.com/wsv3QBLnjI

— 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐚 (@LoyalYashFaan) November 4, 2025

Why is using AI a flex for companies this is actually really embarrassing https://t.co/GWbXWS83sc

— ᯓ★ 𝙈𝙞𝙖.ᐟ (@Milk_whdp) November 4, 2025

god it looks so fucking bad https://t.co/I43aRkRr2L

— ໒꒰ྀི˶•.•˵꒱ྀི১ (@magicaIgirI) November 4, 2025

The quote is easily the worst part. Biggest company in the world proudly admitting to accelerating the apocalypse and asking “what are you going to do about it?” https://t.co/lBQWfqWl6w

— Kat 🏳️⚧️ 🇵🇸 (@basedgizmo) November 3, 2025

This unarguably looks like shit, so it’s very funny the only defense anyone can come up with is “well, I mean it’s the future and all that” https://t.co/81FPJ9fyCr

— august (@regularaugust) November 3, 2025

Defending the ad, Coca Cola’s head of generative AI told The Hollywood Reporter: “Last year we decided to go all in, and it worked out well for us. Consumer engagement was very high. Yes, some parts of the industry were not pleased we were using a 100 percent Generative AI film, but that’s part and parcel of doing something pioneering.

“We understand that concern. But we need to keep moving forward and pushing the envelope. The genie is out of the bottle, and you’re not going to put it back in.”

He said: “Last year people criticised the craftsmanship. But this year the craftsmanship is 10 times better. There will be people who criticise – we cannot keep everyone 100 percent happy. But if the majority of consumers see it in a positive way it’s worth going forward.”

The rise of AI in creative industries continues to be a polarising issue, with the 2023 Hollywood strikes being partly inspired by concerns surrounding movie and TV studios’ usage of artificial intelligence to scan performers’ likenesses and recreate them in future projects.