Coca-Cola Unveils AI-Crafted Futuristic Flavor, Y3000, Targeting Younger Demographics

95

Delving into the realm of mystery and excitement, Coca-Cola has been creating limited-edition beverages with undisclosed flavors for about eighteen months. As part of their futuristic conceptual range, their latest innovation is Coca-Cola Y3000. In a unique twist, this new beverage is intended to embody the taste of the future, with both its flavor and packaging determined using artificial intelligence (AI).

Infusing freshness into the product range of Coca-Cola, an iconic brand with a rich legacy spanning over a century, is crucial to maintaining customer enticement, more particularly among the youth. The challenge amplifies in the modern age where consumer preferences are noticeably tilting towards health consciousness, causing a certain reluctance towards sugar-laden drinks. The innovative approach of incorporating exclusive flavors like Y3000 via the platform known as Creations is Coca-Cola’s strategic attempt to strike a chord with younger demographics.


The flavor profile of the Creations drinks such as Y3000 predominantly resemble Coca-Cola’s signature taste, augmented with a distinct undertone. The development of this added note and the product’s packaging have been achieved with AI’s assistance.

To blend the flavors aptly, the company first sought human insights into the flavors people envisage upon pondering the future. Subsequently, using AI facilitated the decision-making process for flavor pairings and profiles. Coca-Cola adopted AI-generated images to create a mood board, providing inspiration for package design. Encased within an aluminium can, featuring funky bubbles, vibrant pink and blue hues, and a pixelated logo bearing distinct Y2K nuances, the packaging acknowledges the role of AI with the caption “Co-Created with AI”.

To be available in full sugar and zero variations within the United States and Canada, Y3000 will be marketed for a brief period starting from Tuesday and is priced at par with regular Coke.

This AI-crafted beverage from the Creations platform indulges consumers in a unique blend of online experiences and real-world events. Its packaging visibly features a QR code that directs users to Coca-Cola’s Creations site, aimed at stimulating imagination about potential future scenarios nearly a millennium down the line.

Complementing its launch, Coca-Cola has allied with luxury streetwear brand, Ambush, to develop a limited-edition capsule collection, set for release via the brand’s website in the impending fall.

Coca-Cola has previously introduced myriad exclusive flavours via Creations. Notable mentions include the gamer-oriented Coca-Cola Ultimate, developed in partnership with Riot Games, publishers of the online battle arena game League of Legends. Other Creations include Starlight, reflecting space; Dreamworld, purporting to taste of dreams; and Byte, possessing a pixelated flavor. There have also been collaborations with musicians Rosalía and Marshmello for additional limited-edition tastes.

Despite the ambiguities shrouding the flavor profiles, Coca-Cola insists on maintaining an enigmatic stance. The primary association is always Coca-Cola, with each product featuring an unexpected twist to its taste.

CEO James Quincey made it clear at the Redburn CEO conference the previous year that these unique flavors were not aimed at being permanent additions to their portfolio, but serve to keep consumers engaged and interested.