Buffalo Coffee Shop Owner Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Menu Art
A small business owner's attempt to save time using artificial intelligence for promotional materials led to online criticism and a public apology.
Megi Endeladze, owner of Penny's Coffee Shop in Buffalo, New York, experienced significant backlash after using artificial intelligence to create a promotional menu poster. The incident highlights a growing public sensitivity to AI-generated content, even in small businesses.
Endeladze, who also works as a chiropractor and is a new mother, sought a more efficient way to create new seasonal menu artwork. Traditionally, she or her employees handled all visual content, including photographing products and designing chalkboard menus. However, after her staff member responsible for design left, Endeladze turned to ChatGPT for assistance.
She used the AI to generate an image for a Fall menu poster, which she then had professionally printed for approximately $150, plus an additional $200 for a plastic holder. Her intention was to streamline the process due to the demands of her newborn baby and other professional commitments.
Upon sharing the new poster on the coffee shop's Instagram account, Endeladze encountered immediate negative feedback. Comments ranged from "AI Slop" and "a shame" to "Yikes." The criticism escalated to private messages, with some customers indicating they would no longer patronize the establishment. Endeladze noted a loss of around 100 followers from the shop's account, directly attributing some departures to the AI artwork.
The situation intensified when an account with a large following presented Endeladze with an ultimatum: remove the AI-generated poster or face it being shared with the local artist community. This prompted Endeladze to issue a public apology and declare that Penny's Coffee Shop would cease using AI for its promotional artwork.
Endeladze emphasized that her intention was never to upset customers and explained her efforts to balance her business, family, and community responsibilities. She also pointed out that Penny's had never previously commissioned an external artist for its promotional materials, with work always being done in-house.
Moving forward, Endeladze plans to revert to her previous methods, utilizing design tools like Canva herself for future artwork, a practice she has maintained for the past three years of the shop's operation. The controversy surrounding Penny's Coffee Shop reflects a broader trend of public scrutiny faced by businesses and individuals employing AI-generated content for creative and promotional purposes.