1. Elf Designer – Powered by DALL·E 3
Families can act as Santa’s official helpers by designing their very own elves from simple text prompts. The generated images can be downloaded, shared, or printed for holiday decorations.
Published on 30 November 2025
For nearly 70 years, families around the world have turned to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) for the magical, real‑time experience of tracking Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve. It’s a tradition steeped in history, a charming intersection of military precision and childhood wonder. This year, that tradition is getting a significant upgrade. In a landmark collaboration, OpenAI and NORAD are bringing new magic to “NORAD Tracks Santa” with three ChatGPT‑powered holiday tools that let families create festive elves, design toy coloring pages, and craft custom Christmas stories, making the experience more interactive and personal than ever before.
The NORAD Tracks Santa program began accidentally in 1955 from a misprinted newspaper ad and has always adapted to the times, moving from telephone hotlines to the internet and mobile apps. This latest evolution infuses the experience with the power of generative AI, moving it from a passive viewing activity to an active, co‑creative one. By integrating these tools, NORAD is ensuring its beloved program remains relevant and captivating for a new generation of digital natives, bridging a seven‑decade legacy with the frontier of artificial intelligence.
Families can act as Santa’s official helpers by designing their very own elves from simple text prompts. The generated images can be downloaded, shared, or printed for holiday decorations.
Kids can create unique toy coloring pages with just a description of the toy they imagine. The AI renders line‑art images ready for printing and coloring.
Using ChatGPT, users can craft custom Christmas stories starring their own characters and holiday adventures, producing digital keepsakes that are uniquely theirs.
In an era where AI discussions often focus on corporate productivity or complex ethical dilemmas, this partnership showcases AI’s creative and educational potential in a safe, family‑friendly environment. It introduces generative AI to a wide audience—including children, parents, and educators—demonstrating tangible, human‑centric benefits.
For OpenAI, it’s a masterclass in showing how its technology can enrich everyday experiences. For NORAD, it deepens engagement with its most famous public outreach mission, ensuring the program stays fresh and relevant.
The OpenAI and NORAD partnership is more than a holiday campaign; it is a thoughtful fusion of tradition and innovation. By placing powerful creative tools directly into the hands of families, this collaboration transforms a classic tradition into a dynamic, participatory event, setting a compelling precedent for cultural institutions worldwide.