How Brands Are Using AI to Reinvent Holiday Advertising

🎄 3 AI-powered holiday ads everyone is talking about

Christmas is around the corner, and this year AI video creation has taken a noticeable step forward. As a result, more brands are experimenting with AI in their holiday campaigns.

While opinions are still divided, many believe AI will play an increasingly central role in advertising.

🎁 Let’s look at two holiday ads that are drawing a lot of interest this season.

McDonald’s – “It’s the Most Terrible Time of the Year”

This fully AI-generated Christmas commercial from McDonald’s Netherlands focuses on seasonal stress rather than the usual holiday warmth. The tension is resolved, predictably but effectively, with a McDonald’s meal. The storytelling is straightforward, but the visual execution is strong and consistent throughout.

Watch here”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lM8-zNPo

Coca-Cola Brand – “Holidays Are Coming”

Coca-Cola’s iconic Christmas campaign returns this year in a version that is entirely AI-generated. (In my opinion) Compared to McDonald’s, this spot delivers a more refined aesthetic and stronger production quality. It also improves on Coca-Cola’s AI effort from last year, with charming animal scenes and a concise, well-paced story.

Watch here”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy6fByUmPuE

Bonus: Dollar Shave Club – “Shaving Costs”

Not a holiday ad, but worth including. This spot uses AI to poke fun at companies that rely on AI too heavily, which is ironic because the ad itself is AI-generated. It follows a fictional legacy razor company whose executives spiral into increasingly absurd cost-cutting ideas, ending with the suggestion to replace employees with AI. The exaggerated visuals reinforce the joke while staying true to Dollar Shave Club’s irreverent brand voice.

Watch here”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx4_huWjdaY

💡 Curious to hear your take on AI-generated ads. Do you expect meaningful improvement over the next year?

🌐 Digital & Social Snapshot

• About 60% of Google searches now end without a click, pushing B2B marketers to move beyond traditional SEO toward answer-focused visibility.

• B2B companies are investing more in YouTube and long-form video, using it as a primary channel to build trust with technical and executive buyers.

• Sustainable shipping is increasingly influencing B2B deals, with many buyers now expecting CO₂ delivery data before approving high-value contracts.

Sources: DHL, GoB2B; Aimers Blog; Maven Collective Marketing

📘 Recommendation of the Week

Scaling with AI: Mercado Libre’s strategy for growth and innovation

In this 7-minute interview, Senior Marketing Director at Google LATAM speaks with Juan Lavista, VP of Marketing Commerce at Mercado Libre, about how AI is transforming the region’s largest e-commerce company.

Lavista explains how an AI-first approach is shaping decisions across the business, from logistics to marketing and creative, with clear impact on performance and growth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V9Z-MajpUI&t=227s