Coca-Cola’s AI Holiday Ad: A New Take on a Classic
Artificial intelligence-generated videos are becoming increasingly common online, and brands are now embracing this technology. Recently, Coca-Cola reimagined a nostalgic holiday advertisement using AI, but the reception has been less than festive.
This new video is an updated version of the iconic “Holidays Are Coming” ad from the 1990s. The original featured a convoy of Coca-Cola trucks adorned with Christmas lights as they journeyed through a winter wonderland, accompanied by the catchy tune proclaiming that it’s “the season for real things.”
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The classic ad has seen various adaptations over the years, including one from 2020 in the UK and Ireland available here: this link. However, this year marks Coca-Cola’s first attempt at creating an entirely new rendition of “Holidays Are Coming,” utilizing artificial intelligence:
The essence remains unchanged: Coca-Cola trucks arrive to spread holiday cheer. This iteration features digitally created animals like the beloved polar bears—an emblematic symbol of Coca-Cola during this season. There appear to be multiple variations of this AI-generated advertisement circulating online.
As expected from an AI-produced video, viewers noted an unnatural glossiness and slightly awkward movements throughout. Social media users quickly voiced their discontent regarding the ad:
“This looks like a poor imitation of typical Coca-Cola Christmas commercials,” tweeted user Brenden Gallagher.
“I feel like I’m witnessing art and our planet deteriorate before my eyes while no one seems concerned,” expressed user @MoistyJc.
“With this unsettling AI commercial, Coca-Cola can no longer claim ‘It’s always the real thing,'” criticized James Vargas-Maclean on X while calling for consumers to boycott Coke.
Despite showcasing images of digitally rendered Coke bottles throughout its runtime, the accompanying song still insists that “It’s always the real thing.”
