California cafe’s AI-generated advertisements spark backlash

Turns out, in San Francisco, using AI to advertise your croissants can stir up more drama than the morning coffee rush.

Grind and Unwind, a café that opened just a few months ago, found itself at the center of an unexpected controversy after displaying computer-generated images of its food and drinks in the front window, according to NBC. 

What the owners thought was a simple, temporary way to catch the attention of tourists quickly snowballed into online criticism, negative reviews and even vandalism.

Owner Lyndsey Lozano, who bakes the café’s pastries herself while also running the business with her husband, said the reaction to the AI images was unexpected and that the pictures were never meant to fool anyone. The shop had just opened, and she wanted something eye-catching in the window while they got established.

Instead, the internet had plenty to say.

“The AI food poster on their store front window isn’t doing them any favors and wouldn’t want AI slop to be representational of their actual food which looks WAY better,” One Yelp reviewer wrote. “I would rather it be just their logo on black if they are looking to fill the space.” 

Another user added, “I went inside and I had to do a double check because their menu is all AI. Like, how am I supposed to know what the actual product looks like? Their croissant looks like a Lego in the menu. I know SF is tech capital but this is just false advertising.”

And the backlash didn’t stop online.

About a week ago, someone spray-painted what appeared to be the word “seriously” outside the business. The graffiti has since been covered up.

Lozano has now ditched the AI artwork altogether. These days, instead of digitally generated pastries, the real thing is front and center in the window, giving customers a much more appetizing preview of what’s inside.

“We’re focusing on our good pastries, on our coffee, we have a really good burger,” Lozano told NBC. “We’re trying to make a really nice spot for locals to hang out, to be with each other and enjoy really delicious baked goods.”

It’s a reminder that while AI might be everywhere these days, when it comes to flaky pastries and fresh coffee, people still prefer the real deal.

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