As we navigate our ever-changing relationship with artificial intelligence, we’re forced to reconcile its pervasiveness in our daily lives. From ChatGPT to TikTok videos, it is almost impossible to miss the presence of artificial intelligence. 

Gone are the days of a strategic slogan or a commercial performance so phenomenal that it moved you to buy the product on your screen. Instead, companies are cutting costs and using AI to craft ads, leaving artistry and creativity behind. 

One of the more recent offenders of this practice is McDonald’s, with a recently released Christmas advertisement entirely generated by AI. The 45-second video was eventually taken down after serious backlash from viewers, who called the ethics of the corporation capitalizing on a video entirely generated by AI into question.

But McDonald’s isn’t the only brand that has utilized AI seemingly in its cost-cutting measures. Coca-Cola’s 2026 Super Bowl commercial was also created by AI, which followed their Christmas AI commercial featuring animated trucks, penguins and Santa, alongside a caption stating that the advertisement was created by “Real Magic AI.” 

Many pointed out that AI went against the ethos of Christmas because the holiday connotes nostalgia and connection that AI cannot replicate. Similar to the backlash McDonald’s faced, viewers didn’t hold back their criticism in the comment section of the Christmas ad. 

Advertisements could be considered a form of art. Ever since the “Golden Age” of advertising in the 1950s and ‘60s, designers and brands had to consciously think about and anticipate consumer behavior, often deriving from human psychology. They’re often mini-films or graphic designs that focus on creating a perfectly curated moment to sell a product. AI undermines this creativity, replacing labor roles with technology. 

While Coca-Cola’s advertisement included five AI specialists and 100 Coca-Cola staff, as reported by The Wall Street Journal last November, real cast and crew could have been included, or freelance digital artists could have been compensated for their talent and work. . 

According to Forbes, companies in the United States are currently spending more on AI infrastructure — upward of $400 billion — than American consumers are spending on AI — $12 billion. Brands like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola are missing out on spotlighting up-and-coming artists’ work and supporting them in an unforgiving economy, in favor of efficiency and saving a quick buck. Corporations need to understand that they are driving away their audience by incorporating AI into their advertisements, who increasingly are perceiving AI as the lazy way out.

So where do we draw the line? How much AI is too much? With many feeling that AI does not capture the breadth and depth of the human experience due to its lack of human emotion and authenticity, it is important for companies to realize that they cannot substitute human-made art with artificial intelligence. 

Publishing company Merriam-Webster’s 2025 “Word of the Year” was “slop,” which it defined as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” M-W’s definition serves as a clear indication of people’s sentiments when it comes to AI: People are tired of it replacing human effort and creativity.

“It’s almost a defiant word when it comes to AI,” said Greg Barlow, president of Merriam-Webster, in a December 2025 interview with The Associated Press. “When it comes to replacing human creativity, sometimes AI actually doesn’t seem so intelligent.” 

AI fatigue becomes overwhelming when the most emotional, precious parts of the human experience, such as the joy and magic of the holidays, are infringed upon by technology and machinery. 

The human experience cannot be captured with a single prompt or a generated response. When a machine delivers a holiday message of excitement and love, it does not land the same way as it would if it were delivered by an actual human because emotions are intrinsically connected to us. 

When it comes to entertainment, it’s the shared meaning between the creators and the consumers that resonates. While AI can try to approximate this, it cannot replicate it, leaving viewers feeling incredibly dissatisfied.  

As a society, we need to continue being outspoken about our disdain for AI ads. McDonald’s took down their Christmas ad after realizing that it did not have the desired effect on audiences. Voicing dissent online is the first step to corporations realizing that their audiences demand creations by people, not AI. 

The next step is tailoring our algorithms to filter out such videos by skipping and opting out of the content, and supporting brands that show their commitment to prioritizing human effort and creativity.