Some small businesses — including shops, bars, libraries, and stylists — are drawing viral attention by rejecting the wave of near-identical artificial-intelligence-generated flyers that have flooded social feeds and storefronts, instead posting proudly hand-drawn signs that emphasize a more human touch
According to 404 Media, the backlash to generic AI marketing is becoming a trend in its own right. It follows July’s so-called “ChatGPT flyer pandemic,” when ads for surf lessons, takeout, and other local businesses began to blur into a single machine-made style.
“I would rather your event flyer look like this than see more AI slop,” read one event post on Instagram, which featured smiling stick figures and the line “I will come to this event.” Across similar posts, businesses are swapping AI graphics for pencil sketches, marker notes, and cardboard signs that signal a more human touch.