"Soulless": AI-generated McDonald's commercial is torn apart by the community

McDonald’s has released a new commercial that deliberately exaggerates the chaos of the pre-Christmas season. It features burning Christmas trees, arguments during holiday shopping, gloomy weather and visibly stressed people. All of it is set to a distorted version of a Christmas classic, reworked as “The Most Terrible Time of the Year.” The message is clear – while the outside world is hectic, McDonald’s presents itself as a moment of calm and comfort.

What was intended as a satirical take on the usual Christmas cheer struck many viewers as cold and unsettling – and not without reason. The entire ad, developed in collaboration with agency TBWANeboko and production company The Sweetshop, was created using artificial intelligence. Its AI-generated visuals depict distorted bodies, vacant stares and an eerie atmosphere that feels closer to a nightmare than a festive commercial. The term “Uncanny Valley” quickly emerged – describing the discomfort caused when artificial humans appear almost real, but not quite, making them deeply unsettling to watch.

After the YouTube community reacted largely with mockery and frustration, McDonald’s first disabled comments on the video before eventually setting it to private. However, the ad remains viewable on the channel OudeTVinHD. Common criticisms focus on its “soulless” production, lack of humor and absence of any genuine Christmas spirit. More broadly, fully AI-generated commercials are coming under increased scrutiny, with many viewers questioning their emotional impact and authenticity.

By the way: A fully AI-generated reality show is currently streaming on YouTube, but it has likewise been met with a negative response from the community.