🔗 Share this article McDonald's Takes Down Artificial Intelligence Festive Advertisement After Public Outcry. An artificially generated image from the controversial McDonald's commercial. McDonald's has taken down a holiday advert created via AI following receiving widespread online backlash. The brief film was developed using AI video tools and was originally released publicly for McDonald's Netherlands back on 6 December. Viewer Reaction and Removal Shortly after its release, viewers on social media criticized the use of AI in the advert. Many called it "uncanny" and "jarringly assembled". "This moment represents an valuable lesson as we examine the effective application of generative technology," said a representative from the company. The advert was created for the brand by Dutch company TBWA\Neboko and American firm The Sweetshop. It depicted various situations that can go wrong during the Christmas break, using the slogan "the worst time of the year". The Trend of AI-Generated Ads Adverts that incorporate AI-created content have emerged as a rising phenomenon among prominent corporations, notably for the Christmas campaign season. Another beverage giant has also launched consecutive AI-created holiday commercials. Inherent Limitations: As videos produced with current AI video tools are susceptible to degrade the longer they run, most AI video outputs tend to be about a few seconds in length. Industry Concerns: The ad also provoked fears about automation in the production sector, with some commenters stating it might negatively impact opportunities for camera crews. Response from the Creators Following the ad being taken down, a producer's CEO, Melanie Bridge, defended the project. According to her, the production process took "over a month and a half" and involved producing "thousands of takes" which were then shaped in post-production "just as we would on any traditional production". "This wasn't just an experiment," Bridge asserted. "It was a proper commercial." Mixed Public Reception While the McDonald's ad was largely panned, the response for some AI-assisted campaigns has been more mixed. For instance, a recent AI-generated Christmas spot from Coca-Cola reportedly received a significant "positive sentiment rating" from the public. However, several companies have likewise received backlash for employing AI in marketing. Luxury fashion house Valentino, for example, was lambasted for ads that some called "low-effort" and "uncanny". The situation underscores the ongoing conversation within the marketing and creative industries about the balance between new tools and human craftsmanship.
An artificially generated image from the controversial McDonald's commercial. McDonald's has taken down a holiday advert created via AI following receiving widespread online backlash. The brief film was developed using AI video tools and was originally released publicly for McDonald's Netherlands back on 6 December. Viewer Reaction and Removal Shortly after its release, viewers on social media criticized the use of AI in the advert. Many called it "uncanny" and "jarringly assembled". "This moment represents an valuable lesson as we examine the effective application of generative technology," said a representative from the company. The advert was created for the brand by Dutch company TBWA\Neboko and American firm The Sweetshop. It depicted various situations that can go wrong during the Christmas break, using the slogan "the worst time of the year". The Trend of AI-Generated Ads Adverts that incorporate AI-created content have emerged as a rising phenomenon among prominent corporations, notably for the Christmas campaign season. Another beverage giant has also launched consecutive AI-created holiday commercials. Inherent Limitations: As videos produced with current AI video tools are susceptible to degrade the longer they run, most AI video outputs tend to be about a few seconds in length. Industry Concerns: The ad also provoked fears about automation in the production sector, with some commenters stating it might negatively impact opportunities for camera crews. Response from the Creators Following the ad being taken down, a producer's CEO, Melanie Bridge, defended the project. According to her, the production process took "over a month and a half" and involved producing "thousands of takes" which were then shaped in post-production "just as we would on any traditional production". "This wasn't just an experiment," Bridge asserted. "It was a proper commercial." Mixed Public Reception While the McDonald's ad was largely panned, the response for some AI-assisted campaigns has been more mixed. For instance, a recent AI-generated Christmas spot from Coca-Cola reportedly received a significant "positive sentiment rating" from the public. However, several companies have likewise received backlash for employing AI in marketing. Luxury fashion house Valentino, for example, was lambasted for ads that some called "low-effort" and "uncanny". The situation underscores the ongoing conversation within the marketing and creative industries about the balance between new tools and human craftsmanship.