Myer's Bagels, a well-known Burlington, Vermont bakery famous for its Montreal-style wood-fired bagels, removed a set of advertising images and issued a public apology in May 2026 after customers objected to the use of AI-generated photos in its social media promotions.
The ads mixed real photographs with AI-generated images, and regular customers noticed quickly. The mismatch between the shop's handmade product and synthetic marketing imagery drew sustained criticism in local social media channels, with longtime patrons describing the AI images as inconsistent with the brand they line up for.
The shop responded by deleting the posts and apologizing, saying the intention had been to compete in a crowded social media environment as a small business rather than to upset loyal customers. Media coverage of the reversal spread the story well beyond Vermont, making the bakery one of the most-cited small business examples in a year of AI advertising missteps.
The incident tracks a measurable shift in consumer sentiment. Brands large and small have faced similar reactions this year, including reader cancellations at Vogue over an AI-generated model in a Guess advertisement and criticism of distorted AI crowds in a Will Smith concert promotion. Audience research shows trust in AI-generated marketing imagery declining as detection becomes easier.
Source: PetaPixel -- https://petapixel.com/2026/05/11/bagel-shop-removes-ai-generated-ad-images-after-customer-backlash/