@mellifluousbox Definitely makes me less excited to do business there, yeah. Especially if they’re doing well enough to pay a local artist.

Though I’m trying to temper my anger at the little guys who use AI and keep it directed at the AI companies. It’s hard to argue to some restaurant with razor thin margins who aren’t super plugged in why the free art machine is bad for lots of abstract reasons. I wish individuals would choose better, but the bulk of the blame isn’t on them.

@mellifluousbox I attempted to run a business offering e-marketing to small local businesses. I gave up. They have all the needs of a big chain and no budget for it. There's a reason they all have cheap sites running off godaddy or wix. Yes, they all use AI for graphic design now. Honestly, I don't mind. They typically are running a break even or worse budget and need to focus on their core business.

@mellifluousbox I've seen it, AI food images and also more posters are using AI for backgrounds. E.g a local train spotting group have used it for their posters. I also see it for design elements and signs. It's just a bit disappointing lol.

The food is definitely not as advertised.

@mellifluousbox There's a very good local ice cream company near me that recently covered an entire wall at their shop with AI slopvertising for a new product range. It put me right off them.

@mellifluousbox I agree, 404 media had a decent article about this.

@mellifluousbox

No, I handle that the same.

@mellifluousbox There is, of course, another way of looking at it.

Micro businesses that cannot afford the prices graphic designers charge and don't have the artistic skills themselves can now have their ideas created for them to promote their businesses for free or at minimal cost.

Of course, the quality of artwork is subjective. What one individual thinks is naff, another will think is brilliant. 🤷🏻‍♂️

@mellifluousbox You have to wonder what's wrong with their actual IRL products and services, don't you?

@mellifluousbox we have actual brick-and-mortar stores here that sell prints of "artwork" that is not just AI-generated but in fact never even looked at by a human. Cows with 3 horns and 5v legs, that kind of thing. Proudly displayed in the shop window...

And the tourists still go in. Enough people go on holiday to switch their brains off, to make it a viable business.

@mellifluousbox

It indicates a lack of taste. Whether you care if they have taste or not is a free preference.

@mellifluousbox it's not only you! There's a thread by @jasonkoebler.bsky.social all about this, with crowd sourced examples.

@mellifluousbox I recently saw a huge ad at a European airport, prominently featuring a happy customer. From afar, it felt the usual bit over-the-top, but passing the ad nearby, strange skin and hair follicle details made it feel rather nightmare-ish.

This ad budget worked, but in the wrong direction.

@mellifluousbox It would actually deter me from going there, but, I would also want to tell the proprietor that, yeah, this is discouraging me from coming back.

@mellifluousbox
Tbh if i can avoid places with AI generated Illustrations, i'll do it.

I *understand* why small Business try to use it, but on the other Hand, it looks cheap and i got the same feeling about Bad quality for the shop as you

@mellifluousbox
Someone I know keeps seeing them at a playgroup or toy library or something, big murals aimed at kids but the animals are all freaky hybrids 🫠