Megi Endeladze, owner of Penny's Coffee Shop in Buffalo, New York, faced backlash after using AI to create a menu poster. Customers expressed anger and sent negative direct messages, with one even threatening to expose her to the local artist community. Endeladze apologized and stated the shop would no longer use AI for menu artwork.
The incident highlights the growing tension between AI-generated content and human artistry, particularly within small businesses and local communities. It underscores the potential for backlash from consumers who value human craftsmanship and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in creative fields.
Megi Endeladze, owner of Penny's Coffee Shop in Buffalo, New York, faced an AI backlash after using artificial intelligence to create a menu poster. Endeladze, who also works as a chiropractor and is a new mother, decided to use AI to save time on creating new menu signs, a task previously done by her or her employees. She used ChatGPT to generate the menu image and had it professionally printed for around $150, with an additional $200 for a poster holder.
Upon posting the new sign to Instagram, Endeladze received numerous negative comments and angry direct messages, with some customers calling the AI-generated art "AI Slop" and expressing shame. One DM from a self-proclaimed ex-customer stated that AI was a "hard no." Endeladze expressed remorse, stating she did not intend to upset anyone, especially in Buffalo's artistic community.
She reported losing about 100 followers and received a threat from an account with a larger following, demanding she remove the sign or face exposure to the local artist community. The account offered to help find an artist to create a new sign. In response, Endeladze posted a follow-up apology on Instagram, announcing that the coffee shop would no longer use AI for menu artwork or promotional designs. She also appealed for kindness and respect from customers, highlighting the personal toll of running a small business while being a new mother.
Endeladze noted that other businesses, such as a bagel shop in Vermont, have also faced similar backlash for using AI-generated images. She expressed frustration at the expectation that she should have hired a human artist, as she and her staff had always handled sign creation in-house.