The problem with AI, Halloran said, is that it can’t replicate human emotion, an element that makes so many advertising campaigns successful, Coca-Cola’s holiday ads included. Consumers typically look forward to Coca-Cola’s yearly ads and think back to older campaigns with nostalgia.

The company used AI tech to remake its beloved 1995 ‘Holidays are Coming’ ad campaign, sparking complaints it ruined the season’s spirit.

(CNN) - Coca-Cola is getting something it didn’t want for the holidays: backlash. The soft drink company’s new holiday advertisements were made using artificial intelligence. There are three of them, and the internet is freaking out.

Coca-Cola’s new ads emphasize the challenge for brands to cultivate emotional authenticity when engaging with their audience as AI becomes more integrated into advertising campaigns. They remind us to embrace AI cautiously while upholding the human elements that underpin marketing campaigns – holiday ads, in particular.

Coca-Cola's new holiday advertisement was made using Real Magic AI, the company's artificial intelligence platform, powered by OpenAI.