Ghost Kitchens Are Advertising AI-Generated Food On DoorDash and Grubhub (404media.co) 48
Emanuel Maiberg reports via 404 Media: Dozens of Ghost kitchens, restaurants that serve food exclusively by delivery on apps like DoorDash and Grubhub, are selling food that they promote to customers with AI-generated images. It's common for advertisements to stage or edit pictures of food to make it look more enticing, but in these cases the ghost kitchens are showing people pictures of food that literally doesn't exist, and looks nothing like the actual items they're selling, sometimes because the faulty AI is producing physically impossible food items. [...] Some ghost kitchens exist as unmarked commercial kitchens with no actual restaurant you can visit that simply fulfill orders for a variety of brands that only exist on the food delivery services. Other ghost kitchens piggyback on existing, real restaurant kitchens to fulfill orders for those brands that exist only on food delivery apps.
[The food from a business on DoorDash called Pasta Lovers] actually comes from Tony's Pizzeria in North Brooklyn, which also fulfills orders for a cheesesteak brand called Philly Cheez, a hero sandwich brand called Hero Mania, and a wrap brand called That's A Wrap. All of these brands deliver food from different ghost kitchens across the country, and all of them feature the same type of AI-generated images to promote their food, some of which looks ridiculous. [...]
"We don't allow the use of AI-generated images and if we find a merchant is using any, we will remove those images from their menu," Grubhub, which also operates Seamless, told me in an email. However, at the time of writing the AI-generated images on Seamless I sent the company are still live on its site. "We know how important it is for diners to have realistic expectations of what they are ordering and should expect to receive, which is why we share image guidelines with our partners and our system reviews image submissions before they're allowed on our platform." "DoorDash is committed to showcasing realistic representations of meals that customers would receive when ordering online," DoorDash told me in an email. "Showcasing high-quality, accurate, and realistic menu images is crucial for maintaining customer trust and generating sales through DoorDash Marketplace." "This is all incredibly depressing," concludes Maiberg. "A local pizzeria can't get by unless it makes sandwiches for ghost kitchen brands, the people who make a living taking photographs of food are being displaced by AI tools, and gigantic food delivery apps are still making money by taking a cut from restaurants and screwing over gig delivery drivers."
"AI-generated images of food that people can order and eat finally brings us to a shockingly literal manifestation of Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra. Baudrillard would say the Spicy Philly Cheese from Philly Cheez is "never that which conceals the truth -- it is the truth which conceals that there is none."
[The food from a business on DoorDash called Pasta Lovers] actually comes from Tony's Pizzeria in North Brooklyn, which also fulfills orders for a cheesesteak brand called Philly Cheez, a hero sandwich brand called Hero Mania, and a wrap brand called That's A Wrap. All of these brands deliver food from different ghost kitchens across the country, and all of them feature the same type of AI-generated images to promote their food, some of which looks ridiculous. [...]
"We don't allow the use of AI-generated images and if we find a merchant is using any, we will remove those images from their menu," Grubhub, which also operates Seamless, told me in an email. However, at the time of writing the AI-generated images on Seamless I sent the company are still live on its site. "We know how important it is for diners to have realistic expectations of what they are ordering and should expect to receive, which is why we share image guidelines with our partners and our system reviews image submissions before they're allowed on our platform." "DoorDash is committed to showcasing realistic representations of meals that customers would receive when ordering online," DoorDash told me in an email. "Showcasing high-quality, accurate, and realistic menu images is crucial for maintaining customer trust and generating sales through DoorDash Marketplace." "This is all incredibly depressing," concludes Maiberg. "A local pizzeria can't get by unless it makes sandwiches for ghost kitchen brands, the people who make a living taking photographs of food are being displaced by AI tools, and gigantic food delivery apps are still making money by taking a cut from restaurants and screwing over gig delivery drivers."
"AI-generated images of food that people can order and eat finally brings us to a shockingly literal manifestation of Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra. Baudrillard would say the Spicy Philly Cheese from Philly Cheez is "never that which conceals the truth -- it is the truth which conceals that there is none."
guess what? (Score:2)
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Or those canned pictures of Chinese food at the local restaurant with numbers next to them. Those pictures were taken elsewhere and do not represent the food they make.
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Re:guess what? (Score:4, Informative)
Guess what? The picture of the Big Mac on the McDonald's web site looks nothing like the one in the box you get at the drive-thru window. Just sayin'
The difference is while what you get may not look like the picture, it is the same product. That is not what's happening. People are using AI to generate a picture of something which doesn't exist and may not be edible. For example, if you look at the second picture, it appears to be some type of fake seafood salad with slices of pepperoni with lettuce on a bun. Not something I'd want to eat.
The first picture is slightly better, but is clearly generated even if you weren't told. It looks like some type of shredded/thinly but beef topped by what I guess is supposed to be melted cheese (look to the far right of the picture for drizzle of the cheese), then mayo, about two or three pieces of shredded lettuce, two pieces of red onion, tomato slices, and what appears to be an orange pepper slice.
Here is an article from January [businessinsider.com] where Instacart had to delete AI pics of food because how ridiculous they were. That is akin to what the current article is talking about.
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Yeah, you don't want to eat one of those big macs in the commercials. Even if you like big macs.
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Re: guess what? (Score:2)
How would you know? May its fit for boomer taste now.
(In reality mcd quality has gone down though on average and varies wildly on location and who is working there, but they've gone to hotboxing the beef patties etc cost cuts.. Meaning the cheese will not go on the burger as it comes off the grill).
With doordash etc the problem is that they let the ghost kitchens flood the menu with the same item 5 times by just making fake restaurants on the app all from same kitchen all same product exactly same ingredien
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I remember a model discussing a photoshoot she did for some fast food brand on Ridiculousness, in the ad she had to take a bite out of one of the burgers being advertised. She had to bite the burger in a very specific place where it was safe to do so, because it was a heavily rigged burger containing things like sewing needles that were propping it up in just the right way.
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For example, if you look at the second picture, it appears to be some type of fake seafood salad with slices of pepperoni with lettuce on a bun. Not something I'd want to eat.
That's called a Lobster Salad, served as it should be, with lettuce on an untoasted hot dog bun. It is a reasonably accurate depiction. You're clearly not from New England where it is a tried and true delicacy that evokes reverence, loyalty, and heated arguments like you might get about pizza in New York. And if any of you prefer it on a toasted bun or without lettuce, then get thee back, heathen!
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Re:guess what? (Score:5, Informative)
That has mainly to do with angles, and assembling the burger in a slanted way [youtu.be]. The patty is placed further back, then the top bun is placed even further back, and the toppings are placed in front to make them film better. Ingredients are still real, but rather than a representative finished product, you're getting an illustration of the food item.
There is a McDonalds 2 miles from my apartment. (Score:2)
They used AI to generate the ad that is on grubhub, it says WcDonalds with the logo and all the M's inverted. There is a picture of a Sprite that has what appears to be a fake Japanese-ish looking language under the logo too.
It's not clear if GH did this or the restaurant but either way it looks like some weird Chinese Amazon rip off version of the real thing. The restaurant is real, I've ordered from and been there before, this started literally in the last 2 or 3 days.
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Not to mention it also likely was not real food. It was likely 3 pieces of foam some fake lettuce that was spritzed with oil to look moist, some oreo cookie concoction to make the beef patty. And the special sauce is orange dyed elmer's glue.
Support local (Score:5, Insightful)
While Door Dash and Uber Eats may be convenient, if the local establishments are overall hurt by this then we risk losing them and all we will have left are the chain restaurants. Blah.
If you want to order food, go out once in a while, or order for takeout and go get it. Support local. Your taste buds will appreciate it.
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I'm all for local. I do it as much as I can. But I pass on FSA/Sysco. You want to love making food--I'll pay the price if I also like it. I won't reward swill for "jobs".
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demonizing AI (Score:2)
As usual, demonizing AI while saying nothing about the scumbags that use it. It wasn't long ago that "ghost kitchens" were shocking, now they're just accepted as business as usual. Meanwhile, we can proclaim doom and gloom due to AI while the fanboys idolize sociopaths that do this damage. When you're the victim it's awful; when they're the victim it's all fiduciary duty to make a profit.
And fake pictures of food is standard procedure, apparently we're supposed to be outraged that photographers lost thei
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And fake pictures of food is standard procedure, apparently we're supposed to be outraged that photographers lost their jobs committing the fraud.
No, photographers are not faking food. Photographers use real food [thetakeout.com] in their photos. Would you want to eat it? No, because it's not cooked (in the case of meat), but it is real food.
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No, photographers are not faking food. Photographers use real food in their photos.
Not true; photographers use all kinds of stuff to make the food look appetizing. For example [foodphotographyblog.com] they can use glycerin, vicryl (as Polysorb), Scotchgard, acrylic ice and other completely inedible and even poisonous items.
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This sounds like Freshman Philosophy, but is meat painted with brown shoe polish still a food product?
Hungry AI bot eats AI-Generated Food. (Score:3)
"AI-Generated Food" is so the AI bots have something to eat. They are hungry !!!!
FTC (Score:2)
FTC regulations say that "a food product (and any ingredients) advertised must actually be the food product sold. Otherwise, the ad is deceptive."
FTC makes good jokes. (Score:2)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Soo funny.
So paywall sites are directly posting here now? (Score:3)
We sure seem to see a lot of stories nowadays that aren't accessible unless you've subscribed to the site in question. Like this one, for instance.
Falling Down (Score:3)
Tit for Tat (Score:2)
If I don't like the food, I'll hit 'em with the AI generated negative review.
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No, you should work to poison the AI's inputs so that any images it generates of food will also include some rather large and disturbing rats - maybe giant rats with wings.
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Marketingoids want AI to work sooo bad (Score:2)
But it doesn't work. It's total garbage. And anyone in marketing that thinks that such a low effort campaign is effective must think that the average consumer is a drooling moron. They guys have nothing but contempt for customers and we probably shouldn't buy anything from them.
McDonalds wants their fake burger images back (Score:2)
McFaking it since 1940.
Always outdone by Kentucky Fried Chicken anyway.
Isn't it illegal to advertise things (Score:1)
...the seller knows they can't supply? If not, it should be. Otherwise Ford could advertise flying cars just to get people into the showroom. Or MS could advertise a fake variation of Teams that doesn't suck.
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Addendum: If it's merely a concept product, the ad should state so with a non-small-lettered disclaimer. "Depicted item is an artistic concept only, it is not for sale."
Just offer to make me anything, and be done. (Score:2)
Stop this lying about being a particular restaurant. Offer to make whatever ingredients and food you can... And show what I will actually receive for the money.
If I had my way... (Score:2)
I'll be a Ghost customer... (Score:2)
Can a lawyer weigh in on this? (Score:2)
This also applies to pictures chain restaurants use - those pictures of Big Macs have to be actual photos even if they're gussied up.
One would think AI images run directly afoul of the principle if not the letter of these laws, surely lawsuits or legislation can't be far behind?
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One more reason to cook for yourself (Score:2)
Japan (Score:2)
In Japan it is common to display models of food in the window. These models are generally not made from food. They do, however, end up looking EXACTLY like the actual food.
Simple (Score:2)
Don't order from ghost kitchens. They're all terrible anyway. If something "new" pops up on Grubhub, the first thing I do is double check if it's real.