The 5 Biggest Business Fails of 2025
Companies ranging from Meta to Poppi were behind the biggest business self-owns this year. And there was plenty of AI slop to go around.
It’s been a year of high-stakes pivots and even higher-profile facepalms. From "biomedical horrorshows" to founders being unceremoniously shown the door, the business world never fails to provide a masterclass in what not to do.
The best failures are more than just gossip; they are cautionary tales for entrepreneurs. This year, we’re looking at the gaffes, fumbles, and "AI slop" that fueled our collective trolling delight.
Here are the five biggest business fails of 2025.
It’s been a year of high-stakes pivots and even higher-profile facepalms. From "biomedical horrorshows" to founders being unceremoniously shown the door, the business world never fails to provide a masterclass in what not to do.
The best failures are more than just gossip; they are cautionary tales for entrepreneurs. This year, we’re looking at the gaffes, fumbles, and "AI slop" that fueled our collective trolling delight.
Here are the five biggest business fails of 2025.
1. McDonald’s’ "Nightmare" Christmas
This month, McDonald’s Netherlands learned the hard way that AI can’t replicate holiday cheer. Their ad, titled “The Most Terrible Time of The Year,” featured synthetic actors enduring Christmas catastrophes—like cookie batter splattering across a man’s face—before finding "refuge" under the Golden Arches.
The public reaction was swift and brutal. Critics labeled it "AI slop," prompting the company to pull the ad just three days later. McDonald’s issued a statement admitting that while they wanted to reflect holiday stress, most people actually prefer their Christmas to be, well, "wonderful."
This month, McDonald’s Netherlands learned the hard way that AI can’t replicate holiday cheer. Their ad, titled “The Most Terrible Time of The Year,” featured synthetic actors enduring Christmas catastrophes—like cookie batter splattering across a man’s face—before finding "refuge" under the Golden Arches.
The public reaction was swift and brutal. Critics labeled it "AI slop," prompting the company to pull the ad just three days later. McDonald’s issued a statement admitting that while they wanted to reflect holiday stress, most people actually prefer their Christmas to be, well, "wonderful."
2. Meta Connect: The "Ringing" End
At Meta Connect 2025, Mark Zuckerberg’s attempt to showcase the future of AI Ray-Bans turned into a comedy of errors. The keynote was plagued by tech snafus, most notably when Zuck tried to answer a call via the glasses and failed. The device just kept ringing until a visibly flummoxed Zuckerberg told the audience, “I don’t know what to tell you guys.” It didn't get better when a live cooking demo with Cuso Cuts CEO Jack Mancuso saw the AI stumble and eventually go silent, leaving Mancuso standing awkwardly on stage waiting for a recipe that never came.
At Meta Connect 2025, Mark Zuckerberg’s attempt to showcase the future of AI Ray-Bans turned into a comedy of errors. The keynote was plagued by tech snafus, most notably when Zuck tried to answer a call via the glasses and failed. The device just kept ringing until a visibly flummoxed Zuckerberg told the audience, “I don’t know what to tell you guys.” It didn't get better when a live cooking demo with Cuso Cuts CEO Jack Mancuso saw the AI stumble and eventually go silent, leaving Mancuso standing awkwardly on stage waiting for a recipe that never came.
3. Friend’s Subway Ads (and Many New Enemies)
AI startup Friend spent $1 million on a minimalist subway ad campaign in NYC to promote its necklace-based chatbot companion. The ads featured simple definitions of "friendship," which New York commuters promptly treated as blank canvases for their frustrations.
Defaced with slogans like “surveillance capitalism,” the ads became a lightning rod for people who prefer human connection over synthetic bots. CEO Avi Schiffman claimed the backlash was anticipated, but spending seven figures to be the city’s favorite punching bag is a bold strategy, to say the least.
AI startup Friend spent $1 million on a minimalist subway ad campaign in NYC to promote its necklace-based chatbot companion. The ads featured simple definitions of "friendship," which New York commuters promptly treated as blank canvases for their frustrations.
Defaced with slogans like “surveillance capitalism,” the ads became a lightning rod for people who prefer human connection over synthetic bots. CEO Avi Schiffman claimed the backlash was anticipated, but spending seven figures to be the city’s favorite punching bag is a bold strategy, to say the least.
4. Poppi’s Influencer Own-Goal
Prebiotic soda brand Poppi went big for the Super Bowl, but the aftermath was a PR headache. After airing a high-budget ad, the company gifted exclusive vending machines to wealthy influencers.
TikTok users were not amused, pointing out that multi-millionaires don’t exactly need free soda delivery systems. The move felt "out of touch," and competitor Olipop seized the moment, trolling Poppi in the comments and launching their own giveaway aimed at everyday fans. It turns out "vibes" aren't enough when your marketing feels like an elite-only club.
Prebiotic soda brand Poppi went big for the Super Bowl, but the aftermath was a PR headache. After airing a high-budget ad, the company gifted exclusive vending machines to wealthy influencers.
TikTok users were not amused, pointing out that multi-millionaires don’t exactly need free soda delivery systems. The move felt "out of touch," and competitor Olipop seized the moment, trolling Poppi in the comments and launching their own giveaway aimed at everyday fans. It turns out "vibes" aren't enough when your marketing feels like an elite-only club.
5. Tesla’s Optimus: The $10 Trillion Faceplant
The "future" took a literal tumble this year in Miami. Despite Elon Musk’s claims that the Optimus humanoid robot would eventually generate $10 trillion in revenue, the bot couldn't even handle a table of water bottles.
In a viral clip that appeared to confirm the robots are still heavily reliant on human "teleop" (remote control), a robot is seen losing its balance and falling backward into the dark the moment a nearby operator removes a VR headset. It was a stark reminder that while the hype is worth trillions, the reality is still struggling to stand on its own two feet.
The "future" took a literal tumble this year in Miami. Despite Elon Musk’s claims that the Optimus humanoid robot would eventually generate $10 trillion in revenue, the bot couldn't even handle a table of water bottles.
In a viral clip that appeared to confirm the robots are still heavily reliant on human "teleop" (remote control), a robot is seen losing its balance and falling backward into the dark the moment a nearby operator removes a VR headset. It was a stark reminder that while the hype is worth trillions, the reality is still struggling to stand on its own two feet.