AI-Generated Posters Raise Concerns About Creative Work and Brand Trust

AI-generated posters for local events and café menus are becoming more visible, according to TechRadar reporter Graham Barlow. He describes the designs as generic and says they can put people off an event or make food look unlike what a business actually serves.

Scientist and cartoonist Maria Boyle, known as twisteddoodles, says the posters can make events appear to share the same branding. She also recounts a coffee shop changing a mango granola item after an AI image failed to match the food it served. Boyle argues that this disconnect can disappoint customers and affect how they see a business.

Research by YouGov found that 78% of Britons would be less trusting of a brand using AI-generated actors in advertising. Stephen Brookes, founder of UK-based creative agency NPK Media, warns that adverts and social posts made with the same tools may lose the distinct personality that helps businesses stand out. He says a generic or artificial campaign could carry a longer-term cost even if it is quick and inexpensive to produce.

Boyle says discussion has shifted from whether AI models should train on artists’ work without permission or payment toward how companies and individuals value creative work. She argues that public rejection of AI-made material could damage its branding and lead businesses back to human creatives.