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A coffee shop owner used AI to make a menu poster. Then came the angry DMs

82 points · 316 comments · TMWNN

  1. Chance-Device · · focus · HN ↗
    This isn’t really about AI, it’s about a culture where threats and coercion in service of one’s own ideology have become normalised.
    1. sleepybrett · · focus · HN ↗
      No it's about people thinking that I should care about their business when they clearly do not. When you use AI in these lazy ways it's clear that you just don't care.
      1. Chance-Device · · focus · HN ↗
        That doesn’t even make sense. If you’re a customer before she puts up the sign it hasn’t magically made the coffee or the service worse. You want to force her to act the way you want, it’s that simple.
        1. tavavex · · focus · HN ↗
          It does make sense. Customers have always judged businesses on factors besides their direct output. If the coffee shop's customer base has a significant amount of artists and artists do not like AI aesthetic or are upset by seeing AI output getting into places they once frequented, they have every right to stop patronizing the business and tell their friends, even if the coffee is the same.

          Honestly this entire "businesses can't be criticized" theme of this comment section is ridiculous. So what, if a small business started draping themselves in Russian flags and painting Zs on their windows, would I also be panned as an insane culture warrior on HN because I'm "forcing my opinions on them" by refusing to be a customer of that business, even if I went there before the change?

      2. AlexandrB · · focus · HN ↗
        Dude, small business owners only have so much to spend on marketing. Before it was AI, it was stock images or Microsoft clip art. I don't care that my plumber has bad logo, it saving money on a logo keeps him from selling to PE and enshittifying his business.
        1. sleepybrett · · focus · HN ↗
          Then they can bust out some chalk and write a menu. Honestly, it's not rocket science, it does not require AI.
      3. gitaarik · · focus · HN ↗
        This comment is a great example of what the parent is describing
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