A coffee shop owner used AI to make a menu poster. Then came the angry DMs
2 hours ago
- Megi Endeladze, owner of Penny's Coffee Shop in Buffalo, NY, used AI (ChatGPT) to create a menu poster after her in-house barista left.
- She posted the AI-generated sign on Instagram and faced immediate backlash, including negative comments, lost followers, and a threatening DM demanding removal.
- Endeladze apologized, committed to not using AI for future artwork, and urged customers to be kind, noting the pressure of running a small business as a new mom.
- She expressed frustration that the backlash assumed she should hire an external artist, when sign-making had always been done in-house by herself or employees.
- The incident reflects a broader trend of small businesses facing public criticism for using AI in creative tasks.