Council Post: You Can Buy Reach With AI Advertising, But You Can't Buy Fans

McDonald’s Netherlands pulled a Christmas commercial made entirely with AI after viewers quickly reacted negatively, with complaints including “creepy,” poor editing, and inauthenticity. The episode is used by HuRa CEO Ramin Seyed to argue that while AI can improve advertising efficiency, it can’t replace human trust and emotional resonance. A TBWA/Ideally study found that when consumers believe an ad was made by a machine, trust, purchase intent, and brand recognition fall. Ads labeled AI-generated performed worse than identical unlabeled versions, and EU AI Act rules from Aug. 2, 2026 will require more AI disclosures—raising the stakes for brands.