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Natural sound pop: I think everybody can spot AI imagery these days and kind of a lot of times immediately kind of turn away from it because it’s just it’s everywhere.
Leah Masi, reporter: How do you feel when you see AI being used to promote local businesses here in Central New York? When it comes to AI generated content, opinions are all over the map. Some companies are embracing it. Some consumers are strongly against it, and many understand why companies are choosing to use it. Those opposed to AI generated advertising have made their views known on an Instagram page called Stop the Slop Syracuse. The group’s goal is to discourage businesses from using AI created content in their marketing. There’s been a lot of traction on the Instagram with hundreds of likes and comments about AI.NCC news reached out to the account for comment, but they declined an interview. We also contacted several local businesses that use AI in their advertising. They also declined to comment. With the debate continuing online and in the business community. I decided to head out and hear directly from people in Central New York on what they’re seeing to.
Charlie Poag: It’s kind of a double edged sword. I understand why some smaller companies and businesses and organizations turn to that as an easy alternative to paying a graphics designer, but at the same time, the end output a lot of times if it’s if it has that kind of cheap AI look to it, I think it desaturate from your ability to reach a target audience.
Ahmed Mahmoud: Very like deceptive.People go in expecting what they see in the menu, and if you know if it’s wrong, it’s wrong. They won’t probably come back ever again.
Mohannad Assaidi: It could definitely help a lot of people. For some people, it’s harder to like think creatively, but I think AI puts a lot of new ideas into their heads.
Masi: Check out part two on NCC news for how AI is affecting graphic designers in Central New York. I generated content is completely changing the landscape for graphic designers today. I spoke with Luka Galle, a graphic designer in Central New York, and she told me how it’s affecting her everyday life.
Luka Galle: I would say I have an interesting perspective because I know how hard it is to own a small business. Especially affordability. It is tough so I can understand them, but I wish more businesses would just reach out to us.We normally can like figure something out. Most people who do graphic design, especially now, are freelancers. So we know the struggle and we’re willing to work with people especially. Like if it’s a kind conversation, I don’t really mind it, but it just it takes away all of the personality from advertising. That’s the fun part of it is you get to play around with colors and shapes and images, where it all just looks very cold to me when I see advertisements made by it.
Masi: Galle says she’s worked with more than 50 small businesses across New York state, specifically many in central New York, and says she’s hoping to work with more small businesses moving forward to try and avoid AI content. For NCC news, I’m Leah Masi.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. —As more Central New York businesses use AI-generated images in advertisements and promotions, some residents are voicing their concerns on social media about the technology’s impact on authenticity and creative jobs.
The Instagram account @stoptheslopsyr was created in April to encourage local businesses to stop using AI-generated content. The account has attracted significant engagement, with posts receiving hundreds of likes and comments.
NCC News reached out to the Instagram account for an interview, but they declined to comment. NCC News also reached out to several businesses in the Central New York area for comment, but they also declined to comment.
Conversations about AI usage in advertisements have also been seen on Reddit threads and Facebook groups.
© 2026 Leah Masi
Opinions on AI-generated content vary. Some businesses are embracing it; others are strongly against it, and many say they understand why companies are choosing to use it.
Ahmed Mahmoud, a business manager of a local restaurant, said he’s seen the outrage on social media firsthand.
“People are posting their menus and kind of making fun of it and saying that they won’t support it,” Mahmoud said. “And even in the comments, there’s a lot of people saying the same thing.”
He said AI isn’t completely accurate, and that’s one of his biggest dilemmas with understanding why restaurants use it.
“It can just be very deceptive,” Mahmoud said. “People go in expecting what they see on the menu, and if it’s wrong, it’s wrong and they won’t probably come back ever again.”
Mahmoud said it looks sloppy, and he wouldn’t use it to promote the business he works for.
“You can tell the vibrant colors and what sticks out to you when you see something online. That’s AI,” Mahmoud said. “It’s just kind of all over the place and it’s lazy work. You can tell that there’s no effort in it. You can tell it’s just a bunch of images combined in one.”
He noted Second Chance Diner as a local business that does a good job of marketing and valuing human connection.
“There’s simple flyers that are Adobe Photoshop and it looks nice and it gives that community feeling that you go in and you’re going to see these people that you see on their page,” Mahmoud said.
He’s not the only one who feels this way. Charlie Poag, communications manager for the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs, said it’s a double-edged sword.
“I understand it for a lot of organizations especially; they don’t quite have the bandwidth of personnel to have graphics, design and things like that in house,” Poag said. “However, at the same time, you do sacrifice a little bit of authenticity there. I think everybody can spot AI imagery these days and a lot of times immediately turn away from it because it’s everywhere.”
He said if marketing materials look cheap, they detract from a company’s ability to reach a target audience. He added that it’s taking away from the graphic design industry.
“We’re seeing more and more that AI is bumping people out of their careers and there’s pushback from the general public because they don’t want to see their careers and their livelihoods taken from them by AI,” Poag said.
Luka Galle, a Central New York graphic designer, said she is directly affected by AI-generated content. She graduated from St. Bonaventure University in May, majoring in business, marketing and media, but has owned a graphic design business for six years.
She’s done everything from logos to wallpapers to business cards. She said she’s working with more than 50 small businesses around New York state.
She said she’s noticed that affordability and accessibility of graphic design have been a major concern recently, and she’s been adjusting to the new landscape.
“Most people who do graphic design, especially now, are freelancers, so we know the struggle and we’re willing to work with people especially if it’s a kind conversation, I don’t really mind it,” Galle said.
Mohannad Assaidi, an employee at Haraz Coffee House in Syracuse, said he understands why businesses use AI as well. Haraz does not use AI to create its marketing content.
“It can definitely help a lot of people,” Assaidi said. “For some people, it’s harder to like, think creatively, but I think AI puts a lot of new ideas into their heads.”
Galle said AI takes away all of the personality from advertising.
“A lot of small businesses use AI as a way to afford being able to keep their business running so the more that we’re able to support local, the more they can kind of step away from that,” Galle said. “And to small businesses, I would say once you’re in a spot, grab a designer, grab someone that you can go to, but maybe just have a little bit more empathy for everyone all around. I think that’s the way to go, and supporting our community is the best way to build our community.”