From event posters to cafe menus, AI slop is everywhere in the real world

From event flyers to café menus, artificial intelligence-generated designs are becoming ubiquitous in the real world. These AI-created posters typically feature a uniform, generic style, often utilizing marker-felt fonts for headings and images that exhibit the telltale "AI-sloppy" look. The new ChatGPT Images 2.5, which offers templates for event posters, may contribute to this trend, but it's impacting people negatively.

Artist Maria Boyle, whose cartoons appear in New Scientist magazine, expresses disappointment in seeing AI posters in places like libraries and schools, which should embody creativity. Boyle notes that when AI-generated posters look generic, it raises concerns about the quality of the event and the trustworthiness of the business behind it.

Additionally, a recent YouGov survey revealed that 78% of Britons would lose trust in a brand using AI-generated actors in advertising. Creative agency founder Stephen Brookes warns that relying on AI for marketing could harm customer trust and alienate potential customers. In his view, a purely AI-driven marketing approach risks losing the unique personality that sets a business apart.

Boyle suggests that some people believe they can use AI to replicate talent and artistic skills, perceiving it as a form of inherent entitlement. She emphasizes that artists put years of hard work and training into their craft, and AI should not be seen as a shortcut. The core issue, however, goes beyond ugly posters. While the controversy over AI training on artists' work without permission or compensation has faded, the broader problem remains.

Boyle believes the real challenge is convincing companies and individuals to value creative talent, as the reputation damage caused by poor AI-generated branding could force them to reconsider their approach.