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Coca-Cola has unleashed its second annual AI-generated Christmas advert, and let's just say the festive furore is back with a vengeance. Is it a bold experiment or a total fail? We're breaking down the soulless details.

Remember last year’s tacky triads? Well, the beverage giant is totally unfazed by the past backlash. This new campaign doubles down with a bizarre cast of gawping, human-like animals and a Santa Claus that’s pure nightmare fuel.

And can we talk about the “Real Magic” tagline? Critics are pointing out the hilarious contradiction of using artificial intelligence to promote it. Oops!

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The "Soulless" Backlash is REAL

The online reaction has been brutal. Words like “creepy,” “soulless,” and “boycott” are trending wherever the ad is seen. The core complaint? It feels deeply inauthentic at a time when viewers crave genuine connection.

The anger intensified when Coca-Cola’s head of generative AI, Pratik Thakar, defended the move. He called it a "forward-looking experiment," famously stating, "The genie is out of the bottle." This did not go down well with an audience concerned about real, human jobs.

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A Cost-Cutting Controversy

The drama doesn't stop there. The company proudly shared that a "tiny team of five specialists" used AI to create over 70,000 video clips. While they see this as efficient, many see it as a slap in the face to talented animators and artists.

The conversation has reignited a heated debate about companies privileging cost-cutting over human creativity. As one furious user put it: "You’re a multi-BILLION dollar company. Pay REAL animators."

So, what do you think? Is this the future of advertising or a festive flop? One thing's for sure: this AI genie is causing some serious magic-free mayhem.

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