{"id":774606,"date":"2026-07-20T21:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T21:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/774606\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T21:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T21:40:10","slug":"california-cafes-ai-generated-advertisements-spark-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/774606\/","title":{"rendered":"California cafe\u2019s AI-generated advertisements spark backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turns out, in San Francisco, using AI to advertise<\/a> your croissants can stir up more drama than the morning coffee rush<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Grind and Unwind, a caf\u00e9 that opened just a few months ago, found itself at the center of an unexpected controversy after displaying computer-generated images of its food and drinks in the front window, according to NBC<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What the owners thought was a simple, temporary way to catch the attention of tourists quickly snowballed into online criticism, negative reviews and even vandalism.<\/p>\n

San Francisco residents were not happy when they saw new eatery Grind and Unwind using AI images for its menu. NBC Bay Area<\/p>\n

Owner Lyndsey Lozano, who bakes the caf\u00e9\u2019s pastries herself while also running the business with her husband, said the reaction to the AI images was unexpected and that the pictures were never meant to fool anyone. The shop had just opened, and she wanted something eye-catching in the window while they got established.<\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 owner Lyndsey Lozano said the negative feedback about the menu was unexpected. NBC Bay Area<\/p>\n

Instead, the internet had plenty to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AI food poster on their store front window isn\u2019t doing them any favors and wouldn\u2019t want AI slop to be representational of their actual food which looks WAY better,\u201d One Yelp reviewer wrote<\/a>. \u201cI would rather it be just their logo on black if they are looking to fill the space.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another user added, \u201cI went inside and I had to do a double check because their menu is all AI. Like, how am I supposed to know what the actual product looks like? Their croissant<\/a> looks like a Lego in the menu. I know SF is tech capital but this is just false advertising.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the backlash didn\u2019t stop online.<\/p>\n

One vandal was so bothered by the AI-generated menu that they spray-painted \u201cseriously\u201d outside the building. NBC Bay Area<\/p>\n

About a week ago, someone spray-painted what appeared to be the word \u201cseriously\u201d outside the business. The graffiti has since been covered up.<\/p>\n

Lozano has now ditched the AI artwork<\/a> altogether. These days, instead of digitally generated pastries, the real thing is front and center in the window, giving customers a much more appetizing preview of what\u2019s inside.<\/p>\n

The owner said they are now displaying their actual food in the window and not using AI content. NBC Bay Area<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re focusing on our good pastries, on our coffee, we have a really good burger,\u201d Lozano told NBC. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to make a really nice spot for locals to hang out, to be with each other and enjoy really delicious baked goods.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reminder that while AI might be everywhere these days, when it comes to flaky pastries and fresh coffee, people still prefer the real deal.<\/p>\n

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