Bagel Shop Removes AI-Generated Images After Customer Backlash

"“You know, because the images were, they were a hybrid of things that were real at Myer's, but then they spiced them up,” Jones tells WCAX-TV Channel 3 News."

"“I thought, well, we'll see how this works. And overall, it didn't work,” Jones tells WCAX-TV Channel 3 News."

"“I gotta say, I was kind of saddened by it, because my intent was not to offend the passion and appreciation that we get already. It was just to highlight a new way to look at us.”"

"Myer's Bagels later removed the images and issued an apology, saying the intention had been to promote a small business in a competitive social media environment rather than upset loyal customers."

Myer's Bagels in Burlington, Vermont posted promotional ads that combined real photos with AI-generated images. The shop owner used AI tools to analyze product sales and to create social media promotional content because the business lacks a full-time marketing team. Customers reacted quickly on social media and Reddit, criticizing the use of AI-generated images and expressing broader concerns about AI in marketing. The shop removed the AI images and apologized, saying the goal was to promote the business in a competitive online environment without upsetting loyal customers. The owner said the approach did not work and expressed sadness that the intent to highlight a new way to look at the shop offended some customers.

Read at PetaPixel