Northern Ireland artist and business backlash against AI slop

Like many businesses during the Fleadh, Mal Houston from Three Rivers Restaurant used AI posters to highlight entertainment offerings and food deals.

Then somebody put a sticker on a few of his flyers, reading: “Say no to AI.”

“I don’t know who had time to do that during the fleadh, but it did make me think.”

Houston recently announced that his restaurant and nightclub would no longer be using AI-generated art, “even if it does save a few shillings”.

“Hospitality is going through a tough time at the minute, so AI can be convenient and cheap if you need a flyer or menu made up.

“But the other side of that is that it is putting graphic designers out of jobs.

“And just like the hospitality industry is struggling because of challenges we’re facing, they’re struggling because of AI.

“And that’s not fair. These are creative people who’ve paid to develop their talents at university and because of AI the work just isn’t there.”

So, while AI remains in its ascendancy and continues to proliferate, a small local – and global – backlash has begun.

And Frances Smyth believes the fight against it is there to be won or lost by each individual.

“People have a sense that the march of AI is inexorable, like we need to embrace it and like it’s going to happen anyway.

“But it’s not inevitable. Like just I’ve disabled as much as possible on all my devices and I’m saying no.

“You can do that – say no. We don’t need that slop in our lives.”