Coca-Cola's AI Holiday Ads Divide Opinions, Spark Debate on Craftsmanship

In November 2025, Coca-Cola is once again making waves with its holiday advertising, this time with a new AI-generated spot. The company, which last year faced backlash for its AI-filled ad, has returned with a revamped version featuring only animals, aiming to evoke a more positive response.

Coca-Cola's global vice president of generative AI, Pratik Thakar, acknowledges that there will always be critics, but believes the majority of consumers will view the ad positively. The company has worked to improve the craftsmanship, with the AI-generated animals now more convincing than the human faces used in the previous year's ad.

However, the use of AI in such a high-profile campaign continues to divide opinions. Some in the creative industry remain concerned about the technology's impact on jobs, while others see it as a tool to increase efficiency and output. Coca-Cola's AI push is also viewed as a way to appeal to younger, more tech-savvy consumers as the company faces competition from boutique sodas and other upstart beverages.

As the "genie of AI" continues to emerge, Coca-Cola's holiday ads have become a litmus test for consumer acceptance and the normalization of synthetic media. The company's willingness to push the boundaries of this technology could have far-reaching implications for the advertising industry and beyond.