McDonald's Pulls AI-Generated Christmas Ad Following Backlash.

The global fast-food chain has removed a holiday advert produced via Artificial Intelligence after receiving significant online backlash.

The short film was created via AI-generated video and was initially uploaded publicly for the Dutch branch of McDonald's on 6 December.

Viewer Criticism and Removal

Soon after it aired, viewers on social media lambasted the implementation of AI in the film. Many described it as "creepy" and "awkwardly stitched together".

"This moment is an key learning as we explore the appropriate application of Artificial Intelligence," stated a representative from the company.

The advert was produced for McDonald's by Netherlands-based company TBWA\Neboko and American firm The Sweetshop. It depicted a series of situations that often go badly during the holidays, using the slogan "the most terrible time of the year".

The Trend of AI in Advertising

Campaigns that include AI tools have become a increasing trend among prominent corporations, especially for the Christmas season.

• Coca-Cola has also launched consecutive AI-created Christmas commercials.
• Inherent Limitations: Since videos produced using current AI video tools are more likely to become unstable the longer they run, the majority of such clips tend to be only a few seconds in length.
• Industry Concerns: The video also raised worries about job displacement in the creative industry, with some commenters stating it might affect work for production staff.

Response from the Production Company

After the commercial being pulled, a producer's chief executive, Melanie Bridge, stood by the advert.

She stated, the creation took "over a month and a half" and involved generating "numerous versions" which were then crafted in post-production "just as we would on any high-craft production".

"This wasn't an AI trick," Bridge asserted. "The result was a proper commercial."

Mixed Public Reception

While the Dutch McDonald's commercial was largely criticized, the reception for other AI-generated holiday ads has been more mixed.

For instance, a consecutive AI-generated Christmas ad from another major brand according to analysis garnered a 61% "favorable response" from the public.

However, other businesses have also received scrutiny for using the technique in advertising. Italian fashion house Valentino, for example, was criticized for advertisements that some described as "low-effort" and "uncanny".

The episode highlights the ongoing conversation within the marketing and creative sectors about the trade-off between technological innovation and audience reception.