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Coca-Cola’s AI ‘Holidays Are Coming’ Ad Faces Scrutiny Over Glitches and Disputed Behind‑the‑Scenes Claims

The dispute centers on whether promised speed and cost gains from generative tools justified visible continuity faults in a flagship brand film.

Overview

  • Designers and viewers circulated annotated frames showing trucks changing shape, wheels appearing or disappearing, and other continuity errors, with AI consultant Dino Burbidge calling out inconsistent designs.
  • Secret Level’s November 5 making‑of post said over 100 people refined frames and generated more than 70,000 clips, but social media users accused the footage of overstating human craft.
  • Coca‑Cola said the campaign keeps human creativity at the core and noted live musical performances, while global AI lead Pratik Thakar previously asserted tighter control over cinematic details.
  • Secret Level founder Jason Zada said the ad was completed by about 20 people in under a month, highlighting AI‑enabled speed even as critics question quality control.
  • This is the second straight year the company has used AI for its holiday ad, produced with Secret Level and Silverside AI, with renewed debate over brand risk and transparency.