Elon Musk Podcast Why McDonald's Deleted Its AI Ad and the Defense of It
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Dec 13, 2025 After a generative AI Christmas ad from McDonald's Netherlands faced swift backlash, the internet labeled it soulless and creepy. The company quickly pulled the ad, disabling comments and emphasizing it was a learning experience. The production company attempted a defense but later retracted it, distancing themselves from the project. This controversy raises questions about public acceptance of AI-generated content and whether such ads will ever find a warm reception.
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AI Christmas Ad Sparks Immediate Backlash
- McDonald's Netherlands released a 45-second Christmas ad made entirely with generative AI showing holiday disasters and AI-generated faces.
- The internet reacted so negatively that McDonald's disabled comments and pulled the video within days.
Pacing Masks AI Flaws But Creates Jarring Style
- Rapid cutting hides generative-AI video glitches but creates a jarring, seizure-like pacing.
- The uncanny valley and physics errors made characters look almost human yet creepy, amplifying rejection.
Dark Humor Holiday Mishaps In The Ad
- The ad depicted dark-humor holiday mishaps: gifts flying off a car, carol singers losing sheet music, Santa stuck in traffic.
- Scenes repeated rapid disasters, culminating in a woman being dragged by a tram door.