The digital age has brought about many changes in how we perceive and consume food. One of the most recent and controversial developments is the use of AI-generated food images in restaurant menus and advertisements. What was initially seen as a cost-effective and efficient way to create appealing food visuals has quickly turned into a source of backlash and discomfort for many diners.
The issue came to light when tech reporter Sam Biddle shared a deli sign featuring what appeared to be a dozen glossy, shrimp-shaped bagels sitting on a pile of noodles. This image, along with others showcasing perfectly round piles of pasta and strangely smooth sandwiches, sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Users flooded the replies with their own sightings of apparent AI-generated food ads, describing them as suspiciously perfect and even grotesque.
The Loss of Folk Graphic Design
The backlash against AI-generated food images extends beyond mere aesthetics. Many users expressed a sense of loss for the folk graphic design that once characterized small businesses. Communications executive Jules Mossler acknowledged the financial constraints that might drive small businesses to use AI tools but argued that doing so can erase the handmade details that people appreciate about local establishments.
“We want the sign you and your sister made; the misspellings, the chipped paint,” Mossler wrote on X. This sentiment resonates with many who see the shift to AI-generated imagery as a loss of authenticity and personal touch in local businesses.
The Broader Revolt Against AI Slop
The restaurant backlash is part of a larger revolt against AI slop a term used to describe low-quality, mass-produced generative AI content. This content can take various forms, from generic LinkedIn posts to fake celebrity photos and nonsensical recipes. The term has become so prevalent that Merriam-Webster selected “slop” as its 2026 Word of the Year.
Platforms are beginning to respond to users’ demands for less AI-generated material. Pinterest introduced controls to request fewer generative AI images, Snapchat announced that fully AI-generated videos would no longer qualify for recommendations, and LinkedIn introduced a “Seems like AI slop” option to flag generic or machine-made posts. More than 1 million people reportedly used this button within its first few weeks.
The Uncanny Effect of AI Food Images
Food photography has always involved a certain degree of manipulation to make dishes look more appealing. However, AI-generated food images introduce a different kind of disconnect, often resulting in an uncanny effect. This effect is strong enough to provoke physical responses, such as trypophobia, an aversion to clusters of small holes or bumps.
Reddit threads featuring these images are filled with comparisons of AI-generated food to mold, bugs, intestines, brain matter, and diseases. Commenters described the food as “more creature or sentient fungus than food,” highlighting the unsettling nature of these images. Generated text can exacerbate the issue, with apparent AI-created restaurant menus advertising dishes with nonsensical names like “Crslay Fried Mussels Pot Ksascte Barno” and “Homemade ice Croams.”
The impact of AI-generated food images extends beyond visuals. Social media platforms are filled with generated recipe videos depicting impossible cheese pulls, contradictory instructions, and finished dishes that cannot be recreated. A writer at The Cut spent a week cooking recipes that appeared to use AI, resulting in dishes that were far from the expected outcomes.
The controversy surrounding AI-generated food images highlights the need for a balance between efficiency and authenticity in the restaurant industry. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to consider the human element and the cultural significance of the visuals that accompany our food.
