
The Journal. AI Has Come for Advertising
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Dec 12, 2025 Katie Deighton, a reporter from The Wall Street Journal focused on advertising, dives into the bold move by Coca-Cola to remake their beloved 'Holidays Are Coming' ad using generative AI. She discusses viewer reactions, including the eerie 'uncanny valley' effect that sparked backlash. Despite criticisms, Coke's commitment to AI advertising continues, with changes like using animals instead of people. Deighton also explores the broader implications for the ad industry, including efficiency gains and job risks, highlighting the delicate balance between technology and authenticity.
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Coca‑Cola's AI Holiday Experiment
- Coca-Cola remade its iconic "Holidays Are Coming" ad using generative AI instead of filming anything.
- The company publicly framed the experiment as a signal that it wants to lead on the technology.
Uncanny Valley Still Hurts Emotional Ads
- Viewers noticed an uncanny-valley effect in the AI ad, especially with people’s faces appearing unnatural.
- Online reaction framed the AI version as soulless compared with traditional Coca‑Cola commercials.
Iterating The AI Approach With Fewer Humans
- Coca‑Cola repeated the AI approach and produced a new version with no people, using animals instead to avoid uncanny humans.
- The company said the AI workflow used about five specialists to generate and refine over 70,000 clips.

