USA TODAY reporter gave up Coca-Cola cold turkey. This is how it went.
USA TODAY reporter Julia Gomez consumed about two to three sodas a day but noticed significant changes after eliminating her Coca-Cola fix.
Coca-Cola released a set of new holiday ads – and two created with generative AI are bubbling up discussion on social media.
The pair of ads that utilize artificial intelligence dropped Monday, Nov. 3 and are reimaginations of the classic 1995 Coca-Cola spot, “The Holidays are Coming,” the company said.
The new AI ads arrive after the company was criticized for using AI in a holiday ad last season.
Watch Coca-Cola’s ads that use AI
One ad titled “The Holidays Are Coming,” features a Coca-Cola bus driving through cities around the world as animals like polar bears, pandas, seals, birds and puppies react. Watch it below.
In a second ad titled “Holidays are Coming, Fantastical,” which the company said will air exclusively in the United States, shows more AI-generated creatures, like meerkats, rabbits, koala bears and raccoons admire the Coca-Cola truck. At the end of the ad, an AI Santa Claus is seen waving with a bottle of the soft drink in his right hand as the animals wave back and cheer. Watch it below.
Coca-Cola backs use of AI: ‘Human creativity remains at the heart’
The company said “Coca-Cola’s 2025 holiday campaign celebrates behind-the-scenes givers with heartwarming films and innovative AI-powered storytelling, inspiring authentic connections and festive joy.”
“The brand’s use of AI technology enhances creative storytelling while keeping human creativity at the core.”
Coca-Cola partnered with San Francisco-based studios Secret Level and Silverside AI to create the videos.
The company’s statement added: “Human creativity remains at the heart of Coca‑Cola advertising,” noting that the music used in the films was performed and sung by real artists.
Coca-Cola began experimenting with AI ads in 2023
Last year, the company released its first generative AI Christmas ad, also with the theme “Holidays are Coming.” Both ads are similar, but the 2024 ad features more people instead of animals. The company began experimenting with AI ads in 2023 when it released “Coca-Cola Masterpiece,” in collaboration with the Real Magic AI platform.
The previous Christmas advertisement was widely criticized. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pratik Thakar, the company’s global vice president and head of generative AI, said: “Last year, people criticized the craftsmanship. But this year the craftsmanship is ten times better. There will be people who criticize — we cannot keep everyone 100 percent happy. But if the majority of consumers see it in a positive way, it’s worth going forward.”
Social media reacts to Coca-Cola AI ads
Social media users poked fun at the ad’s use of the emerging technology.
One user wrote: “You may be wondering why this year’s AI slop Coca-Cola commercial focused on animal characters…It’s because their Santa Claus looks like an uncanny valley nightmare.”
Another user suggested that using AI might be part of the company’s marketing strategy so people continue to talk about it on social media.
“The unfortunate genius of generative AI and commercials (like the Coca-Cola one) is that they induce so much rage that they get reshared into virality. Infamy is part of the playbook.”
Social media users also commented on what they believed were glitches in the ad.
“The wheels didn’t turn right, the faces looked off, and that warmth everyone remembers from the original was simply gone,” one person wrote.
Yet, not everyone appeared to hate the ad.
One user wrote: “Saw this commercial – absolutely amazing. Easily one of the best pieces of work I’ve seen in a while. It reminded me of the iconic 1994 Coca-Cola ad, but reimagined for 2025 with AI.”
Companies experimenting with AI ads
Coca-Cola isn’t the first company to try and create an ad using AI. In 2023, Toys ‘R’ Us released its own advertisement made with artificial intelligence. The ad features Charles Lazarus, the company’s founder, as a boy. The advertisement came under fire because the boy character appeared differently in several shots.
However, Nike released an AI ad in 2022 that served as a tribute to tennis player Serena Williams. The project, titled “Never Done Evolving,” used archival footage of Williams and artificial intelligence. It received several awards following its release.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com
