Video: Someone made a deranged version of Coke’s derided AI holiday ad

The use of artificial intelligence in holiday advertising has sparked controversy and creative responses, particularly regarding Coca-Cola’s recent AI-generated holiday campaign.

Initial backlash: Coca-Cola’s decision to employ three AI studios for its holiday advertisement campaign has drawn criticism for its uninspired approach and apparent displacement of human artists.

• The original advertisement has been characterized as predictable and lacking creative depth, exhibiting the typical shortcomings of AI-generated content
• Alex Hirsch, creator of “Gravity Falls,” publicly criticized the company with a sardonic tweet about Coca-Cola’s signature red color being derived from “the blood of out-of-work artists”
• The move follows a broader trend of major corporations turning to AI-generated content for advertising, including a similar controversial campaign by Toys “R” Us

The new Coca-Cola AI ad is unhinged
byu/Equal-Mix1721 inaivideo

Creative response: An alternative version created by Reddit users has gained attention for its deliberately chaotic and surreal take on the original concept.

• The fan-made version includes bizarre elements such as morphing body parts, unexpected explosions, and a polar bear inexplicably throwing its cub into an icy lake
• The reimagined advertisement has garnered positive responses from online communities, with viewers praising its unrestrained approach
• The contrast between the official and unofficial versions highlights the potential for creative interpretation of AI-generated content

Corporate AI advertising history: Coca-Cola’s approach differs notably from some of its previous AI-related marketing efforts.

• During the Super Bowl, Coca-Cola’s Bodyarmor brand intentionally created a disorienting AI-generated advertisement to emphasize the authenticity of their product
• The intentionally jarring Bodyarmor advertisement was generally better received than the current holiday campaign
• Online observers suggest that a more self-aware approach could have improved the reception of the holiday advertisement

Looking forward: The divergent reactions to Coca-Cola’s official advertisement and the fan-made parody reveal a growing disconnect between corporate approaches to AI implementation and audience expectations for creative content. The situation raises questions about how major brands will balance cost-efficiency with creative integrity as AI tools become increasingly accessible.