AI's Ad Backlash: Brands Learn Human Touch Still Reigns in 2025

• Generative AI became mainstream in advertising in 2025, used for production acceleration and scale, but faced significant audience backlash.
• McDonald's Netherlands withdrew an AI-generated Christmas film due to "uncanny animation" and "emotionally flat characters," deemed unsettling by viewers.
• Coca-Cola's AI-reinterpreted Christmas campaign lacked the "warmth" and emotional resonance of its iconic human-centric predecessors, drawing criticism.
• H&M faced backlash from labor groups like The Model Alliance over AI-generated digital models, raising concerns about authenticity and creative employment.
• Zomato in India banned AI-generated food images in 2024 due to customer complaints about misleading visuals, highlighting the need for trust and realism.

Why It Matters: Brands learned in 2025 that while AI scales production, human connection and emotional resonance remain critical for audience trust.