Some restaurants are using artificially-generated images to advertise their food, a practice drawing criticism for producing unsettling visuals. A recent study indicates consumer preference for human-made food photography when its origin is known, but AI-generated images can be appealing when viewers are unaware of their creation.
Bon Appétit’s David Kaminer noted the trend, highlighting examples of AI-generated images depicting distorted food items, such as shrimp resembling doughnuts and 3D-printed quiche. Some restaurants are even advertising items they do not sell using these images.
The primary reason restaurants are adopting this practice is cost and ease; it is cheaper and simpler than hiring a professional photographer. However, a 2024 study showed that while people are initially drawn to AI-generated food photos if unaware of their origin, they prefer images created by humans when they know the source. Kaminer contrasted this trend with the enduring appeal of “real tangible craft,” expressing a preference for authentic, human-created work.
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