In San Francisco, the use of AI for promoting croissants has ignited more drama than you might expect during a typical morning rush.
Grind and Unwind, a café that opened recently, is facing unexpected backlash after featuring computer-generated images of its food and drinks in a window display.
What started as a straightforward approach to attract tourists quickly turned into a wave of online criticism, negative reviews, and even some vandalism.
Owner Lindsey Lozano, who bakes alongside her husband, expressed surprise at the intense reaction. She clarified that the AI-generated images were never intended to mislead anyone; they just wanted something eye-catching as they were establishing their presence.
However, reactions online were far from forgiving.
One Yelp reviewer remarked, “AI food posters in store windows aren’t going to help. If you’re going to fill up the space, I think it’s better to just put the logo on a black background.”
Another user noted a similar frustration: “When I entered, I had to double-check the menu—it was all AI. How can I trust what the actual products look like? The croissants seemed like Legos. I get that SF is a tech hub, but this is just misleading.”
The backlash persists. Recently, someone even spray-painted the word “serious” on the outside of the café, and that graffiti had to be covered up.
As a result, Lozano decided to abandon the AI images. Now, real pastries take center stage in the window, providing customers with a more authentic preview of what to expect.
Lozano stated, “We’re focused on good pastries and coffee as well as excellent burgers. Our aim is to create a welcoming space for locals to gather and enjoy some delicious baked goods.”
This situation serves as a reminder that while AI is becoming more common, people still have a strong preference for authenticity—especially when it comes to tasty pastries and freshly brewed coffee.
