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The new Christmas ad from McDonald's made with AI is so bad that its creators have pulled it from circulation

A Christmas advertisement from McDonald’s, created entirely with artificial intelligence, has generated an intense negative reaction on social media and was withdrawn almost immediately after its launch. Considered “miserable” and “cynical” by critics, the ad was the subject of mockery and disdain, even being described as “the most horrible of the year” by journalist Theodore McKenzie from 80 Level. One of his comments included a comparison to a similar ad from Coca-Cola, also generated by AI, which had been widely criticized before. An absolute senseless absurdity The CEO of The Sweetshop, the company that produced the ad, defended the […]

A Christmas advertisement from McDonald’s, created entirely with artificial intelligence, has generated an intense negative reaction on social media and was pulled almost immediately after its release.Considered “miserable” and “cynical” by critics, the ad was the subject of mockery and disdain, even being described as “the most horrible of the year” by journalist Theodore McKenzie from 80 Level. One of his comments included a comparison to a similar ad from Coca-Cola, also generated by AI, which had been widely criticized before.

An absolute nonsense without meaning

The CEO of The Sweetshop, the company that produced the ad, defended the creative process, arguing that it was not just a simple trick of artificial intelligence. Melanie Bridge stated that a team of up to ten AI specialists worked diligently for seven weeks, generating thousands of variations before shaping the final product. “This is not a seasonal experiment; it is a film,” Bridge asserted. However, her defense has not managed to mitigate the disdain that the ad has received.

The fact that such a criticized advertisement was praised as a result of a creative effort implies a serious misjudgment, as the content did not resonate with the audience. On social media, many users pointed out the lack of authenticity and emotional connection in the brand’s message. A representative from McDonald’s in the Netherlands mentioned that the incident serves as an important lesson on the effective use of artificial intelligence in advertising, however, some suggest that it is unlikely that significant changes will be made based on this feedback.

With the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in advertising, the question arises of how to balance technology with human creativity, something that this case clearly highlights. The controversy continues to reflect the public’s concern regarding the quality and relevance of ads created in this way.

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McDonald's backtracks and withdraws a Christmas ad generated by AI

McDonald’s has decided to withdraw a Christmas advertisement generated by artificial intelligence after receiving a strong negative reaction online. The ad, launched on McDonald’s YouTube channel in the Netherlands, sparked a flood of criticism that led the company to reconsider its approach. The company told BBC News that this experience was an important learning opportunity about the effective use of AI in its advertising strategy. Public opinion and its positioning on AI This is not an isolated case, as major brands like Coca-Cola are also experimenting with AI in their […]

McDonald’s has decided to withdraw a Christmas advertisement generated by artificial intelligence after receiving a strong negative reaction online. The ad, launched on McDonald’s YouTube channel in the Netherlands, sparked a flood of criticism that led the company to reconsider its approach. The company told BBC News that this experience was an important learning opportunity about the effective use of AI in its advertising strategy.

Public Opinion and Its Positioning on AI

This is not an isolated case, as big brands like Coca-Cola are also experimenting with AI in their advertising campaigns. Despite receiving mixed reactions to its first AI-generated advertisement, Coca-Cola chose to launch a second version during the holiday season. This suggests that, despite the criticism, companies are willing to move forward with this new technology in an effort to adapt and attract a broader audience.

The use of artificial intelligence for ad creation is constantly increasing, as this tool is fundamentally transforming the advertising industry. Brands use it for various reasons, including efficiency in content production and the ability to personalize ads more effectively. However, consumer sentiment is divided; despite AI becoming a norm for advertisers, many consumers are still adapting to this trend.

This episode with McDonald’s may be an indication that, although AI offers interesting opportunities, public acceptance will not always occur. Brands must carefully consider how they apply these technologies to avoid adverse reactions and foster a positive dialogue with their audiences.

The first easter egg in the history of video games has to do with… going to McDonald's

If you read any story about video games, it will tell you that the first easter egg in history (you know, those surprises hidden in the code that you have to specifically search for or find by pure chance) is in the game Adventure. It’s no wonder: in 1980, the industry was not seen as an art. And if it’s not an art, no one cared who programmed it, beyond a few fans who read about it in the very amateur computer magazines of that time. But Warren Robinett wanted to change everything and leave his name in posterity

If you read any history of video games, it will tell you that the first easter egg in history (you know, those surprises hidden in the code that you have to specifically search for or find by pure chance) is in the game Adventure. It’s no wonder: in 1980, the industry did not look like an art form. And if it’s not an art, no one cared who programmed it, beyond a few fans who read about it in the very amateur computer magazines of that time. But Warren Robinett wanted to change everything and leave his name in posterity. And boy, did he do it.

Send eggs (Easter)

Adventure was a game that, seen now, is terribly simple: your character was represented by a square that, going through 30 different rooms, faced monsters in its quest to recover a stolen chalice. However, it sold over a million cartridges, is considered one of the most influential games in history, and solidified the success of the Atari 2600. That said, by the time it was released, Robinett was already out of the company: after all, behind this leonine method that prioritized anonymity, the goal was to prevent any other company from hiring its workers.

As you may know, Robinett managed to create a room where you could read “Created by Warren Robinett”. Many consider this to be the first easter egg in video game history, but the truth is that it only has the fame of being so: the record belongs to a game seven years earlier, an adventure that aimed to replicate man’s landing on the moon called Moonlander, the graphical version of the text adventure Lunar Lander, back in 1973.

Jack Burness, its creator, took ten days to set up the game, which was operated with a “light pen” (a computing concept from the 70s incredibly similar to our touch screens) where you could adjust the angle and drop of the lunar module, which could land well on the moon, go off course and fly through the stratosphere, or crash against the surface. Or maybe… was there something more? If the player flew their ship sufficiently horizontally, they could encounter a McDonald’s up close, which the restaurant could visit after landing or even destroy if it landed on top. I’m loving it, I guess.

Astronaut Burger

Over time, this lunar McDonald’s has become a landmark in video games, and some have wanted to pay tribute to it years later. When Djuncan and Jeremy Frieser, two Dutch streamers, showcased in their videos two secret codes that formed the number “1973”, the first 12 people who entered it on a special website created by the fast food company were able to meet them at TwitchCon. But there was more.

Using the first easter egg in history as an excuse, an advertising company launched a campaign across the country where hidden treasures could be found in the McDonald’s app… And the kids could play a game from many years before they were born. And the truth is, nowadays, “easter eggs” are something we not only take for granted but also expect to see in our video games. After all, what is the Konami Code if not an easter egg? And trying to hit something that sounds weird in a Zelda game multiple times to see what happens? The downside is knowing that Link is never going to go grab a Big Mac after his adventures. Well, at least until Nintendo has a need.

A Minecraft movie has led to a significant increase in players in the game

Recent adaptations of Xbox properties are surprising the entertainment world by achieving better-than-expected performance. A Minecraft movie, released on April 4, has proven to be a great success, overcoming initial negative reviews and generating a significant increase in player activity and sales of the beloved video game. In just one week, the number of weekly active players of Minecraft grew by 17%, and there was a total increase of 30% in its user base, which already had approximately 170 million. Minecraft is the big winner of this […]

Minecraft is the big winner of this kind of adaptations

In addition to the reinvention of interest in the game, sales of Minecraft on Nintendo Switch also surged by 25% prior to the movie’s release, with an additional 8% afterwards. This growth is a testament to the power of adaptation and its effective marketing campaign, in which Microsoft and Warner Bros. collaborated with McDonald’s to offer a themed menu that attracted the attention of the young audience.

However, the movie is not the only Xbox adaptation that has seen recent success. The Fallout series on Prime Video became the second most-watched show on the platform, achieving an astonishing 345% increase in sales of the franchise’s games, despite the fact that these were already available on Xbox Game Pass and other subscription services. The popularity of Devil May Cry, Fallout, and a Minecraft movie reflects a positive shift in video game adaptations, which have historically had a very low success rate.

As a Minecraft movie continues to gain popularity, rumors of a possible sequel are emerging, which could help maintain interest in the franchise and repair the image affected by the criticism of other adaptations, such as the Halo series. Undoubtedly, these latest adaptations from Microsoft are reshaping the narrative around video game properties in the entertainment industry.

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The Close Call: How the Pineapple Hamburger Almost Became a McDonald’s Staple

None of the strange experiments at the world's most popular burger joint can match the biggest flop in its history. So much so that few have heard of it: the Hula Burger.

Despite being the queen of fast food, McDonald’s has not always been right in the new menus it has proposed to customers. Sure, a piece of breaded chicken is not the same as a lobster sandwich (the horrible McLobster) or eating hot dogs in a place where they don’t look like anything (McHotDog). But none of the bizarre experiments of the world’s most popular burger joint can match the biggest failure in its history. So much so that few have heard of it: the Hula Burger.

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Aberration vs. aberration

Let’s go back to 1961. If you have seen the movie ‘The Founder’ you will know that Ray Kroc, a door-to-door salesman, bought the McDonald’s franchise from its true creators, brothers Richard and Maurice, after seven years of helping them grow the franchise. Thus, this man became the leader of the company and announced that all decisions would have to go through him. In fact, although his techniques were completely unethical, he is the one to whom the restaurant owes its fame.

But not all of his ideas were good, of course: two years after buying McDonald’s, a store in Ohio began to show a noticeable drop in sales. The reason? The Lenten season in a very religious population that, for forty days, could eat virtually none of the menus offered by the franchise. The store’s owner, Lou Groen, was not willing to go bankrupt without a fight, and created his own hamburger, one that still survives to this day.

He took a piece of fish, breaded it and put it between bread and bread: the Filet-o-fish (although still without its iconic name in English) was born. Business picked up and Groen thought it was such a good idea that he tried to take it to the upper echelons. However, when it came time for Kroc to approve it, what he did instead was laugh at him saying “You always come up with a bunch of shit! I don’t want my shops to stink with the smell of fish!”

We are a pineapple

Of course! Who would want to buy a fish fillet between two hamburger buns? That didn’t make any sense! And to prove it, he would duel it out with the new snack he had created: the Hula Burger. The winner would continue on the menu and the other would be eliminated forever. Spoiler: if you don’t see the Hula Burger around, there’s a reason.

Putting pineapple on pizza or not is a fairly common debate on the Internet that usually has no clear solution (the Hawaiian exists for a reason), but this one seems clearer: a cheeseburger in which the meat is replaced by a piece of grilled pineapple. It’s tasty, isn’t it? Of course it doesn’t. Not now, not in 1963. At the store where the test was conducted, 350 people chose the fish fillet, and far, far fewer went for the other aberration.

After the test, Roy Kovac gave up and put the fish fillet on the regular menu, where, to the surprise of many, it remains. In fact, the advertisement in 1965 named it “The fish that catches you people”. It is true that in Spain it is not popular, in the world 300 million are bought throughout the year, so there must be something in the water -or, rather, in the fish burger- when they bless it.