23 votes

The hall of shame: the worst AI-generated flyers

20 comments

  1. [3]
    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    While reading this article about local businesses using AI flyers I found an excellent link to an example of these that I think may be more interesting for folks who haven't seen them. Especially...

    While reading this article about local businesses using AI flyers I found an excellent link to an example of these that I think may be more interesting for folks who haven't seen them. Especially as I was explaining them somewhere in a previous thread. I thought it might be useful to share what the most obvious, daily, in your face use of AI looks like for many of us non-tech folks. When I think about AI usage, this is much higher on my list than anything to do with coding and that's always a bit jarring to me when I see it talked about exclusively that way. So I think folks in the tech world maybe don't see this side as much either.

    These feel ubiquitous in such a way that it surprised me when people didn't have the same experience of seeing these types of flyers. And particularly for restaurants it's such an active turn off to see fake food. I personally have a policy of avoiding businesses that use these especially new food trucks and restaurants.

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      trim
      Link Parent
      I saw one the other day, clearly slop, and the business was for a local “craft” firm who would put designs on your cushions or coasters or whatever. But they chose to advertise this most artisanal...

      I saw one the other day, clearly slop, and the business was for a local “craft” firm who would put designs on your cushions or coasters or whatever.

      But they chose to advertise this most artisanal of endeavours with the most AI poster.

      It put me off using them should I ever desire to procure such services — but many will not notice or care, I suppose.

      Edit: I suppose that article was meant to contain an egregious example or three, but there were none visible when I loaded the page

      3 votes
      1. DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        Only a couple load on that page, hence me submitting this link instead of the one in my comment. But I agree, I don't want to patronize those businesses/events

        Only a couple load on that page, hence me submitting this link instead of the one in my comment.

        But I agree, I don't want to patronize those businesses/events

        1 vote
  2. [4]
    mat
    Link
    This one almost crosses the line from awful slop into terrifyingly amazing. There's been a LOT of sloppy event posters around where I live this year but this has also led to some actively not-AI...

    This one almost crosses the line from awful slop into terrifyingly amazing.

    There's been a LOT of sloppy event posters around where I live this year but this has also led to some actively not-AI posters showing up, I was tempted to drive three hours to get to this event. Dogs, ice cream, BBQ AND cake. Perfect.

    8 votes
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      Look I'll take MS Paint or that absolute treasure of a hand drawn poster over the hot mess of these any day! That one is a delight!

      Look I'll take MS Paint or that absolute treasure of a hand drawn poster over the hot mess of these any day! That one is a delight!

      2 votes
    2. myrrh
      Link Parent
      ...yeah, i spent far too long scrutinising that one and still can't figure out what it's advertising; maybe some kind of parody flyer?...

      ...yeah, i spent far too long scrutinising that one and still can't figure out what it's advertising; maybe some kind of parody flyer?...

      1 vote
  3. [11]
    tibpoe
    Link
    Some of these are bad, but at least 3 of them do not seem to be AI-generated at all: Help shape our new mural Sumer Specials Elopement Weddings in the Greehouse I could be wrong here for sure, but...

    Some of these are bad, but at least 3 of them do not seem to be AI-generated at all:

    I could be wrong here for sure, but it's kind of interesting to me how bad people as a whole are at identifying AI. Presumably a few different people have reviewed these pictures before publishing this article.

    3 votes
    1. TaylorSwiftsPickles
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      https://ibb.co/N6h1Ts8v https://ibb.co/HfGGrWnK

      do not seem to be AI-generated at all

      interesting to me how bad people as a whole are at identifying AI.

      Presumably a few different people have reviewed these pictures before publishing this article.

      the other reason I bring this up is because seeing it published in a reputable outlet means that three or four different people reviewed these, and came to what seems like the wrong conclusion

      https://ibb.co/N6h1Ts8v
      https://ibb.co/HfGGrWnK

      7 votes
    2. [3]
      DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      The first and last are still in an AI style, even if they're using a real picture they were probably made with the same apps and just inserted their own photo rather than generating it. The middle...

      The first and last are still in an AI style, even if they're using a real picture they were probably made with the same apps and just inserted their own photo rather than generating it.

      The middle one doesn't have that much of the same style, true. However, it lacks the appearance of having been proofread by only listing lunch menu options by number and not by actual meal. It's a completely useless menu. Suggesting to me that it was not made by a human.

      I would be willing to bet that all three used AI to make it even though those three have fewer of the signs

      I also think it's odd to flag three out of a very large quantity and use it as a talking point about how people are bad at identifying AI, especially if in fact those three were made with AI as I suspect.

      It is entirely possible that the aesthetic in the first and the third has sort of backwards migrated into flyer making apps outside the features as well since it is everywhere. But at that point, I think that is also on the user.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        tibpoe
        Link Parent
        It's the opposite. I've seen flyers design similar to these since before AI existed. It's also important to remember that being boring and derivative does not make something AI: publishing...

        The first and last are still in an AI style, even if they're using a real picture they were probably made with the same apps and just inserted their own photo rather than generating it.

        the aesthetic in the first and the third has sort of backwards migrated into flyer making apps

        It's the opposite. I've seen flyers design similar to these since before AI existed.

        It's also important to remember that being boring and derivative does not make something AI: publishing software always comes with templates where you can put your own content in someone else's layout.

        The middle one doesn't have that much of the same style, true. However, it lacks the appearance of having been proofread by only listing lunch menu options by number and not by actual meal

        You underestimate AI and overestimate immigrant restaurant owners who can barely speak English.

        I also think it's odd to flag three out of a very large quantity and use it as a talking point about how people are bad at identifying AI

        It's the opposite. I only bring it up now because it's on-topic for this thread. I've seen plenty of incorrect accusations of AI slop, and the opposite, where AI slop was praised for its quality, both here on tildes and in other online & offline spaces. But in those situations I choose not to engage and further derail the discussion.

        And again, the other reason I bring this up is because seeing it published in a reputable outlet means that three or four different people reviewed these, and came to what seems like the wrong conclusion on their provenance!


        a parting note

        5 votes
        1. DefinitelyNotAFae
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          I am aware, I'm also saying they're in the same AI style, just without the generated images. The mural one in particular is very similar. The third pic is less so, but has some elements that lean...

          It's the opposite. I've seen flyers design similar to these since before AI existed.

          It's also important to remember that being boring and derivative does not make something AI: publishing software always comes with templates where you can put your own content in someone else's layout.

          I am aware, I'm also saying they're in the same AI style, just without the generated images. The mural one in particular is very similar. The third pic is less so, but has some elements that lean me towards AI use.

          The middle one doesn't have that much of the same style, true. However, it lacks the appearance of having been proofread by only listing lunch menu options by number and not by actual meal

          You underestimate AI and overestimate immigrant restaurant owners who can barely speak English.

          I overestimate that restaurant owners know people need to know what meal they're ordering? I've eaten at a lot of restaurants run by immigrants who make perfectly functional menus.
          This is a weird take to me. None have ever listed their specials like this.

          It's the opposite. I only bring it up now because it's on-topic for this thread. I've seen plenty of incorrect accusations of AI slop, and the opposite, where AI slop was praised for its quality, both here on tildes and in other online & offline spaces. But in those situations I choose not to engage and further derail the discussion.

          And again, the other reason I bring this up is because seeing it published in a reputable outlet means that three or four different people reviewed these, and came to what seems like the wrong conclusion on their provenance!

          Again I could be wrong. But since it's functionally not proveable its just both of our opinions. Regardless 3 examples out of that large group isn't indicative of anything about people's ability to detect AI images en masse. Since neither of us can prove it, idk that an article coming to "what seems like the wrong conclusion in your opinion" is again indicative of really anything? Especially given how integrated this stuff is into software like Canva these days.

          Either way, I don't agree but if it's three I don't think it's particularly relevant to the overarching point in the scheme of things.

          2 votes
    3. [4]
      myrrh
      Link Parent
      ...i feel like sumer specials used a template poorly, but isn't generative AI...

      ...i feel like sumer specials used a template poorly, but isn't generative AI...

      3 votes
      1. [3]
        DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        It certainly could be, I'm more confused by them listing their specials by number only. But as I said above, I could certainly be wrong (or they could have used AI to generate the text and input...

        It certainly could be, I'm more confused by them listing their specials by number only.

        But as I said above, I could certainly be wrong (or they could have used AI to generate the text and input that into said template) The "Sumer" part wasn't my personal flag on it.

        That said it's certainly one out of a whole bunch.

        1. [2]
          myrrh
          Link Parent
          ...it's not a flyer, it's a table-card: i think they listed by number so diners seated at the table could easily reference which combination plates (detailed on the menu in their hands) are or...

          ...it's not a flyer, it's a table-card: i think they listed by number so diners seated at the table could easily reference which combination plates (detailed on the menu in their hands) are or aren't included in the summer lunch special deal...

          (eyeglasses for scale)

          ...from the photo above, each las marias combination plate is clearly too complicated to briefly itemise in a simple list on a small card...

          3 votes
          1. DefinitelyNotAFae
            Link Parent
            Yeah I used "menu" because I lacked the words for "table card", thanks for that! I knew what I meant at least. Again, I am fully open to being wrong on that one, and these are all user submitted...

            Yeah I used "menu" because I lacked the words for "table card", thanks for that! I knew what I meant at least.

            Again, I am fully open to being wrong on that one, and these are all user submitted to the website so entirely possible it slipped through. It was the text that flagged for me, not the imagery and if I'm wrong because I "overestimated" "immigrant restaurant owners" as the other user said, I'll take my hit!

    4. [2]
      fidwell
      Link Parent
      Okay I'm glad I wasn't the only person confused by those first few. "Sumer Specials" does feel off, but it could also just be a typo.

      Okay I'm glad I wasn't the only person confused by those first few. "Sumer Specials" does feel off, but it could also just be a typo.

      1. tibpoe
        Link Parent
        It looks like just a typo to me; AI tools are too good to make mistakes like that any more. Even when they did in the past, it was more like blending different letters together than making...

        It looks like just a typo to me; AI tools are too good to make mistakes like that any more. Even when they did in the past, it was more like blending different letters together than making spelling mistakes.

        1 vote
  4. hobbes64
    Link
    Many of them are so busy. Like a Where's Waldo puzzle. When writing software, one should follow a principle of "YAGNI" (You Aren't Gonna Need It) so that you don't write extra code that will never...

    Many of them are so busy. Like a Where's Waldo puzzle.
    When writing software, one should follow a principle of "YAGNI" (You Aren't Gonna Need It) so that you don't write extra code that will never be used. This is an especially useful concept to tell AI too, because unlike humans, it isn't lazy at all and will modify 15 files when a person would stop and ask a follow up question first before doing something stupid.

    So I think when people design posters with AI, they need to tell it that it doesn't have to tell a separate story with every pixel.

    2 votes
  5. Omnicrola
    Link
    Ok, but the "Atlanta Furniture Man" flyer hits at exactly the level of quality I expect from my local shady furniture warehouse sales company. No notes.

    Ok, but the "Atlanta Furniture Man" flyer hits at exactly the level of quality I expect from my local shady furniture warehouse sales company. No notes.