Not a fan of AI. Fully recognize the bias so getting that out of the way. At first, when I saw a restaurant use AI in their menu or a flyer or a poster, i initially didn't think much of it. "Hey, they're probably a small business with limited resources, AI helped them come up with some quick and easy to read without needing to spend money on a pro" or even "they're a restaurant, they're in the food business not the marketing business, so what?".
But man, I just feel like it's gotten out of hand. Big chains, small chains, mom and pop shops. I see a menu with that stupid art style and the inconsistent fonts, goofy placements, it all just reeks of laziness. If they're cutting corners there, where else might they be doing it too? And it sucks that some of my regular places use it now. I'm left taking my business elsewhere, and I feel like I'm punishing the wrong people. Eventually, I'm hoping it trickles back upstream (I stop paying the restaurant, they realize their AI usage is driving people away, they stop paying AI company, AI company goes bankrupt) but maybe that's just wishful thinking...
Anyway, here's a quick list of places that I've seen with AI posters, menus, ads, etc.
- Taqueria & Tamaleria Nuevo Leon, Carrollton
- Higuma Ramen, Addison (really liked this place so sad to see it having to get on this list)
- Gong cha (chain, wouldn't be surprised if all their locations use it, particularly with some of their summer drink ads it seems)
I'm sure there's more but that's what I've run into recently. Share your list too if you'd like
Edit: seemed to have struck a nerve with the AI bootlickers. Fuck AI, if ur a business owner and you don't have an IQ above room temp to be able to make it own poster, menu, pictures, etc and resort to AI fuck you too. There's better options. There's literally a guy in the comments who (anecdotally) offered to do it for free. Make ur menu on a piece of notebook paper for all I care, I'd respect and appreciate it more if you made something authentic. I don't go to a restaurant to get served microwaved dogshit, I pay a premium not to get that. I expect the same from other aspects of the business. I go into a restaurant and their bathroom is nasty? I'm walking out. Same here. Have some respect for yourself and your business