SOFT drink giant Coca-Cola has been inundated with rage-fuelled customers as they use AI to remake their much-loved Christmas advert for the second year in a row.
Coca-Cola have surprisingly brought back the AI advert that was branded “cold” and “ineffective” by experts.
A Netflix star and leading marketing expert claimed the advert was ‘cold’ and ‘ineffective’ last yearCredit: Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola bosses face more backlash as angry fans have taken to social media to discuss their thoughtsCredit: Coca-Cola
Fans branded the promotion ‘soulless’Credit: Coca-Cola
This year Coca-Cola joined forces with two AI studios for a “refreshed take” on their beloved “Holidays are coming” advert.
Viewers have blasted the advert online with hundreds taking to the comments of its debut on YouTube.
The beverage giant claims these adverts “push the boundaries of technical precision, cinematic storytelling and production quality.”
However it seems fans don’t quite agree.
One viewer said: “A year of AI development later and it still looks terrible.”
Another joked: “The best ad I’ve ever seen for Pepsi.”
A third viewer said: “Remember when they paid real animators to make commercials with heart.Now it’s soulless AI.”
Pratik Thakar, Global Vice President & Head of Generative AI, said: “AI is a superpower when it comes to execution and production, making what was previously impossible possible.”
The controversial advert is beloved by many around the world, as it’s used to benchmark the beginning of the holiday period.
It features Coca-Cola’s iconic red delivery trucks, embellished with lights and their branding,as they make festive deliveries across a snowy landscape.
The advert is remake of the 1995 one titled “Holidays are Coming,” which featured real trucks and actors.
Ever since they dropped the famous promotion, variations of it have arrived on our screens in the weeks leading up to the big day.
Coca-Cola faced backlash back in 2024, when they first debuted a version using AI.
Viewers fumed in 2024 as Santa was replacedCredit: Coca-Cola
The advert is remake of the 1995 one titled “Holidays are Coming,” which featured real trucks and actorsCredit: Coca-Cola
Pratik Thakar said: “Last year we set a global milestone with the world’s first entirely GenAI–created film on broadcast media—a bold leap that broke new ground.”
And while the advert certainly wasn’t a fan favourite last year Coca-Cola bosses have turned to AI yet again.
Viewers of the advert last year blasted the business for replacing Santa.
“They appear to have eliminated Santa from the adverts” said one person on X.
Another angry customer said:“The new Coke Christmas advert being made entirely by AI isn’t very Christmassy.”
The Sun previously reported on an earnings call in February 2024 and Coca-Cola Chairman and Chief Executive James Quincey said the use of AI meant they could create more digital content faster and cheaper.
He said:“In our previous model, it took several months to create a TV ad.
“Now, we’re producing thousands of pieces of digital content that are contextually relevant and measuring these results in real time.”
Leading marketing expert Mara Einstein, who featured in a Netflix documentary, called the promotion “so fake,” and struggled to see how it would “pull people in.”
She praised the diversity in the advert but felt the AI aspect defeated the point of their inclusion.
It remains unclear on how much Coca-Cola forked-out on this years AI generated “Holidays are coming” advert .
Coca-Cola admitted AI content is cheaper and they can increase the volume of promotionsCredit: Coca-Cola
Bosses brought back their controversial AI despite backlash last yearCredit: Coca-Cola 
