Most AI images on social media show surreal, unsettling depictions of burgers, noodles, shrimp, steak, and even coffees|Alpha|CC BY-NC 4.0
AI-generated food photos at some small businesses are turning potential customers off.
Unsettling images of familiar foods may be the hidden cost of AI’s low price for small restaurants. Brick-and-mortar shops, delis, and cafes often have limited marketing budgets, making cheap or free AI tools an appealing way to create promotional graphics.
The cost-cutting measure is backfiring
Several people are posting images online of establishments in their area that carry such AI food “slop,” garnering negative attention. An X user noted they ordered one such item in a cafe and found out it doesn’t exist.
Many have said on social media that they won’t dine at places that use AI-generated food images.
Most AI images on social media show surreal, unsettling depictions of burgers, noodles, shrimp, steak, and even coffees.
In San Francisco, a coffee shop was forced to pay hundreds of dollars to remove graffiti sprayed in response to its AI-generated facade graphics.
Graphic designers report plunges in small-business clientele, while clients face costly fixes for low-resolution AI files.
Meanwhile, some food businesses are embracing the backlash, pledging never to use AI-generated flyers. Wyoming’s Chugwater Soda Fountain joined the trend with a post that went viral.