Freepik Joins the AI Canvas Universe

Freepik's collaborative AI workflow canvas

Coca-Cola's AI ad

Affinity launches for free

Adobe MAX roundup

Node-based workflow system - Teams construct reusable workflows by connecting modular nodes that each handle specific tasks: uploading media, writing prompts, generating images or videos with AI, upscaling with Magnific technology, or using an AI assistant to transform ideas.

Real-time collaboration - Multiple users edit the same Space simultaneously with visible colored cursors showing each team member's activity, allowing instant feedback and iteration without switching tools or exporting files.

Professional workflow templates - Ready-made templates target specific media production tasks including ad animation, brand identity creation, 360° product views, UGC video localization, storyboard-to-motion, campaign model swaps, and studio-quality product shots.

Freemium model - Free users can create up to three Spaces and access limited AI tool credits; paid plans unlock more Spaces and generation capacity, with credits consumed per AI-generated asset.

Production used even fewer humans - Coca-Cola reduced the team from 50 people last year to just 20 this year, explicitly touting the smaller headcount as progress. Secret Level founder Jason Zada noted the ad required significantly less human involvement than the company's first fully AI-generated 2024 Christmas spot.

Company defends approach despite criticism - Pratik Thakar, Coca-Cola's global VP and head of generative AI, stated: "The genie is out of the bottle, and you're not going to put it back in," while claiming the craftsmanship is "10 times better" than last year. Zada dismissed critics as "the loudest" voices who are "just afraid" for their jobs.

Social media reaction was swift and harsh - Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch responded on X: "'The genie is out of the bottle, and you're not going to put it back in'—your boss firing you on Christmas." Multiple commenters criticized the ad's visual quality and the company's apparent pride in reducing creative jobs.

Testing reportedly shows split reception - While Zada claims "average people really enjoyed it" based on internal testing, YouTube comments included reactions like "The best ad I've ever seen for Pepsi," and observers noted characters resembling copyrighted properties from Zootopia and Sing.

Single-platform approach - The new platform combines vector, raster, and layout tools into a single ecosystem, aiming to reduce friction across asset creation, editing, and final output.

Collaborative workflows - Built-in support for real-time collaboration and cloud syncing allows team members to work together on projects from anywhere.

Cross-device compatibility - Seamless transitions between desktop and mobile devices maintain project consistency across devices.

Alternative positioning - The launch targets professionals seeking alternatives to subscription-based platforms, building on Affinity's existing user base among creatives looking for advanced capabilities at a lower cost.