COCA-COLA CHRISTMAS AD CONTROVERSY: CAN AI REPLACE HUMAN CREATIVITY IN MARKETING?

Summary from the TLDR Marketing newsletter

Coca-Cola's use of AI in its Christmas ads shows how efficiency gains can clash with emotional authenticity in brand storytelling. In November 2024, it recreated the iconic Holidays Are Coming ad using AI, which was faster and cheaper but triggered backlash as viewers called it soulless, even though impressions were high. In 2025, it released another AI holiday ad using animals and archival Santa imagery, signaling it would continue despite criticism. The move suggests it is testing how much emotional distance consumers will tolerate, especially during Christmas, while relying on deep brand loyalty to limit real sales impact.