The concept behind Y3000 is a fusion of ideas from Coca-Cola fans worldwide. The company reached out to its global fan base, inviting them to share their visions of what a futuristic drink should taste like. This collaborative approach laid the foundation for a truly unique soda experience.
What will the future taste like?
AI played a pivotal role in shaping Y3000’s flavor profiles and the product’s external packaging, including the logo and text script.
Namely, what sets Y3000 apart is its departure from the recognizable red branding that Coca-Cola is renowned for. In a bold and forward-thinking move, Coca-Cola opted for a futuristic design that reflects the essence of Y3000 as a drink from the year 3000. The visual identity of Y3000 draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of consumer passion points, including music, gaming, sports, and more.
This design shift showcases the company’s willingness to break away from convention and embrace the potential of AI in creating innovative packaging and visual branding that aligns with the concept of the future.
Each Y3000 can is adorned with a QR code that, when scanned, transports customers into a glimpse of the year 3,000. This immersive experience leads them to the Coca-Cola Creations Hub, where they can interact with the custom Y3000 AI Cam.
Oana Vlad, Senior Director of Global Strategy at Coca-Cola, shared insights into the motivation behind this innovative project. “We hope that Coca-Cola will still be as relevant and refreshing in the year 3000 as it is today, so we challenged ourselves to explore the concept of what a Coke from the future might taste like—and what kind of experiences would a Coke from the future unlock?”
The Y3000 launch joins a roster of other fantasy-flavored Coca-Cola Creations drops, including Coca-Cola® Ultimate Zero Sugar, Coca-Cola® Move, Coca-Cola® Starlight, Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar Byte, the artist Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola®, Coca-Cola® Dreamworld, and Coca-Cola® Soul Blast. Through these imaginative creations, Coca-Cola continues to explore the dynamic intersection of AI, creativity, and consumer engagement, demonstrating how AI-driven design can be a powerful tool for crafting unique and immersive brand experiences.
The ‘Real Magic’ brand platform, which celebrates unexpected connections that elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary, was a driving force behind merging human intelligence with AI. As Coca-Cola continues to innovate, they aim to bring the future closer to the present.
Coca-Cola® Y3000 Zero Sugar
Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar Y3000, a limited-edition offering from Coca-Cola® Creations, is designed to provide a unique and forward-looking soda experience. It’s important to note that this beverage, unlike the regular Coca-Cola® Y3000, is formulated without sugar, making it an ideal choice for those who are health-conscious or watching their sugar intake. With zero sugar and zero calories, it caters to consumers seeking the authentic taste of Coca-Cola without the added sugars.
Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients that make up Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar Y3000:
- Carbonated Water: The base of the beverage, providing the signature fizz.
- Caramel Color: This adds the classic Coca-Cola hue.
- Natural Flavors: These contribute to the distinctive taste that Coca-Cola is known for.
- Phosphoric Acid: It helps balance the flavors and provides acidity.
- Sodium Benzoate (to protect taste): A preservative that helps maintain the drink’s freshness.
- Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose: These artificial sweeteners provide sweetness without the calories associated with sugar.
- Sodium Citrate: An acidity regulator that enhances the taste.
- Aspartame: Another artificial sweetener used to mimic the sweetness of sugar.
- Caffeine: To provide that familiar Coca-Cola energy boost.
This carefully crafted combination of ingredients ensures that Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar Y3000 offers the classic Coca-Cola taste while remaining free of sugar and calories.
Each Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar Y3000 is presented in a 20oz bottle, offering consumers an ample serving to explore the flavor of the future. To enhance the overall experience, the bottle features a QR code that, when scanned, unlocks a portal to the year 3000. This unique feature allows customers to engage in digital and real-world experiences, adding an extra layer of excitement and interactivity to their enjoyment of the soda.
In comparison to the Zero Sugar option, the regular Y3000 Coca-Cola maintains the classic Coca-Cola structure with ingredients like carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, and caffeine. This version of Coca-Cola is notably calorie-dense, containing 240 calories per serving, primarily due to the presence of high fructose corn syrup. It also boasts a substantial sugar content of 65 grams per serving, making it a choice for those seeking the traditional, full-flavored Coca-Cola experience.
Introducing AI into the beverage industry
The introduction of AI into the beverage industry marks a transformative moment in the way companies innovate, create, and engage with their customers, with Coca-Cola being a trailblazer in this exciting field.
The company has made significant strides in integrating AI into its creative processes. Pratik Thakar, the global head of generative AI at Coca-Cola, believes that AI is the bridge between human creativity and brand identity. Thakar stated, “Coca-Cola has always bridged the divide (…) We asked ourselves how do we make it more approachable, more palatable, and something which is useful to everyone?”
Coca-Cola is not alone in its exploration of generative AI. Other industry leaders, such as Nestlé and Mondelez, have embraced AI tools like OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 to enhance their advertising efforts. Executives at these companies have praised AI for its cost-cutting potential and its ability to boost productivity.
While the exact taste of this futuristic drink remains a tantalizing mystery, Y3000 is available for a limited time in the United States, China, Europe, Canada, and Africa. The idea behind this variation of a well-known drink is that each sip represents Coca-Cola’s dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology and cultural trends to craft novel experiences.
