Key facts
- Delis are increasingly using AI-generated images for menus and signs.
- Customers have shared images of these AI-generated menus online, often expressing disgust.
- Chi-Town Deli manager Ali Malik confirmed they used AI images as a temporary measure.
- Malik stated the AI images were created by an employee and used due to budget constraints.
- The trend appears to be driven by small businesses with limited marketing budgets facing rising costs.
Restaurants and delis are increasingly using AI-generated images for their menus and signage, leading to viral online discussions about the often unappetizing and bizarre results. Chris Murphy, a customer at Chicago's Chi-Town Deli, noticed that the sandwich images on the menu appeared to be AI-generated, describing them as "AI monstrosities." He noted the "glossy sheen, the sameness of every sandwich, that weird lettuce that looks like it's made of bricks, and the horrifying Lovecraftian Reuben sandwich."
Upon contacting the deli, manager Ali Malik explained that the AI-generated sign was created by an employee as a temporary placeholder while they await the delivery of a new sign featuring real photographs. Malik indicated that the use of AI was a cost-saving measure, common among small businesses in the food industry with tight margins and limited marketing budgets.