Background
The fast‑food giant’s Netherlands branch released an AI‑generated Christmas ad on December 6. The spot showed a series of holiday mishaps and positioned McDonald’s as a comforting refuge. While the concept was ambitious, viewers quickly criticized the odd visuals and the decision to rely on AI rather than a human production crew.
Public Reaction
Social media erupted with disapproval. One Instagram commenter wrote, “Please bring back people doing things again,” while another added, “A $200 billion dollar company who doesn’t even sell real food also can’t make a real commercial.” A Reddit user summed it up bluntly: “It’s shit.”
Production Details
The ad was created by creative agency TBWANeboko and production company The Sweetshop using AI tools. Despite the backlash, The Sweetshop defended the work, emphasizing that the final piece resulted from extensive effort and craftsmanship.
Industry Context
This controversy follows a similar uproar over Coca‑Cola’s AI‑generated Christmas ad released last month, reigniting the debate about AI’s role in advertising and whether brands should rely on machines over human creativity.
