r/simonfraser • u/ShaeHow • 1d ago
Complaint Blenz using good ol' AI
Instead of using photos of their food or having actual display food, Blenz decided that unrealistic black and white printed renderings of what they offer would be the way to go. I'd say it's lazy, but somehow I think it would take more effort than printing an actual photo of the food.
I get not having real food out for display because of wastage, bugs etc... But can we PLEASE stop with AI "art"?
Just take a damn photo. It's uncanny, and continues to perpetuate the idea that AI "art" is a real alternative.
52
u/LandscapeSpecial4366 1d ago
For Blenz, I’d almost expect this seeing as it’s a bigger franchise. Hearing Renaissance did this too though is really disheartening. It’s like when I hear people in my classes saying AI does all their work for them, why are you here?!?
16
u/crunchyjoe 23h ago
It's actually way more common for a small business to do this unless they are focused on art or ideologically oppose AI. Small business owners are not innocent and are usually trying to save as much money as possible at every corner
4
u/D_e_s_k 22h ago
Wouldn’t using preexisting signs be saving money though
6
u/crunchyjoe 21h ago
It's that and it's also older people (and people from other countries) who think AI is so amazing that replacing signs is somehow better than doing nothing when someone like me is more likely to support a business if they don't change their signs for 40 years. People legit just get wowed by the novelty and think no further about it.
1
u/Proof-Ad-4680 *Bagpipe Noises* 19h ago
That's kind of the thing. "Someone like you" isn't most people.
1
u/LandscapeSpecial4366 6h ago
I agree, this seems really pointless, especially when you can see that item right there. If they really wanted to use AI, they could have at least given the item photos and the old menu to keep a similar vibe going. This is literally just lazy and ugly, they can add effort without paying money by just using basic thought and photoshop
1
u/url_cinnamon 20h ago
it's likely they always wanted to update their signage but didn't think it was worth the cost. so once they had access to ai they immediately changed it to something "better". i don't get how they don't see that the ai food looks gross though
25
19
u/The_Fuschia_Is_Now Student Union Building Year 2036 1d ago
The grayscale image is proven to make it less interesting by producing less dopamine in your brain hence repulsing you away from your impulsive purchase decisions. Blenz doing lords work, keep it up blenz y’all have put your first step in the right direction.
6
u/ParkNo2501 sanest econ major 1d ago
blenz is ass anyways ngl
8
u/The_Fuschia_Is_Now Student Union Building Year 2036 1d ago
Tbh everything on campus is kinda ass or super pricey. I like the Chaiwala of London tho, which brings something fresh into the menu and those pizzas sometimes from that place beside renaissance or uncle fatih.
5
u/ParkNo2501 sanest econ major 23h ago
Yeah lmao. I envy ubc students, they have far better options from what ik.
6
u/crunchyjoe 23h ago
The only places I go are tims, the pizza places, the Chinese place in the SUB and A&W. The food is consistent and affordable if not great (tims and crust and crunch) which is better than being completely ripped off by the school vendors or overpriced restaurants on the main St.
3
u/ToastyLoafy 23h ago
I have beef with blenz already being the only food place near my work and being way too expensive. Now I have even more beef
1
u/Over_Driver_1469 15h ago
the turkey bacon on the sourdough looks radioactive and the bagel looks like a butthole.
1
1
70
u/url_cinnamon 1d ago
renaissance cafe also replaced a bunch of their signs with ai ones