AI-generated food images on menus are grossing out diners and sparking backlash
nordicinst · x · 2026-09-06
The Guardian reports consumers increasingly encounter unappetizing AI-generated food images on menus—like Jamaican BBQ pop-up meats resembling 'leather belts crawling with beetles.' Denver nurse Jill Sennett shared the images with her 26,000 X followers, drawing 500+ disgusted reshares. Restaurants say they use AI images to cut costs amid slim margins; a 2026 National Restaurant Association report found 26% of operators use AI for marketing, inventory, scheduling, menu optimization, and orders. But consumer backlash can be swift, especially in the Bay Area, where SF cafe Grind & Unwind faced fierce pushback. In dining, appetite appeal beats pixel-perfect AI art.
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