AI-generated marketing triggers consumer backlash for businesses

Businesses using artificial intelligence for branding and menus are facing significant consumer backlash. In the United States, bar staff reported that management's decision to replace authentic venue photos with generic AI-generated images and text has alienated regulars. When customers criticized the shift, management reportedly responded by telling them to “get with the times.”

Similarly, an independent cafe in Liverpool, United Kingdom, has gone viral after using AI for its branding and menu. Customers expressed a growing tendency to boycott businesses that use synthetic visuals for food products, arguing that real photography is more trustworthy. Commenters noted that AI-generated food imagery often lacks accuracy and can appear as “slop,” leading patrons to seek out establishments that provide authentic representations of their offerings.