Pepsi rolls out AI-powered campaign, two new zero sugar flavors to woo Gen Z
By Felicia Nwosu
Pepsi is blending flavor with futuristic tech in its latest campaign, unveiling two new zero sugar varieties, Strawberries ‘N’ Cream and Cream Soda, alongside an AI-powered interactive tool designed to redefine how consumers experience sweetness.
Developed in partnership with Smooth Technology, the new AI tool dubbed “The Sweetest” measures sweetness in unexpected and playful ways. From comparing the taste of the new drinks to endearing things like baby animals or sentimental texts, the tool brings a fresh, humorous take to the sensory world of flavor.
Crafted by PepsiCo’s in-house creative agency, Sips & Bites, the campaign targets a digitally native Gen Z audience by combining artificial intelligence with quirky pop culture references and gamified experiences. Users can test whether the Cream Soda flavor is “sweeter than a Pomeranian in a sweater” or “almost as sweet as a love note from grandma.” The AI assesses factors like softness, color, and emotional resonance to generate entertaining sweetness scores.
To take the experience offline, Pepsi is hosting the “Sweet Room” pop-up in Central London from April 17 to 20. The activation invites fans into a multi-sensory playground where they can taste the new Zero Sugar drinks, interact with the AI in real time, play games in the Sweet Arcade, and win exclusive Pepsi merchandise.
Matthew Watson, Chief Creative Officer at Sips & Bites Europe, said the goal was to create something fun and culturally in tune with young audiences. “We wanted to push boundaries, play with tech, and tap into how people connect emotionally to flavor and fun.”
lbbonline’s reported that the campaign spans multiple platforms including digital, out-of-home, and social media, continuing Pepsi’s recent run of innovative marketing tactics. Just last month, the brand revived the classic Pepsi Challenge with a retro-themed blind taste test. Now, with this AI-forward campaign, Pepsi continues to blend nostalgia with next-gen storytelling to strengthen its bond with younger consumers.
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