{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/just-eat-apologises-after-ai-generated-food-images-cause-online-ridicu","json":"https://digestai.news/story/just-eat-apologises-after-ai-generated-food-images-cause-online-ridicu.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/just-eat-apologises-after-ai-generated-food-images-cause-online-ridicu.md","slug":"just-eat-apologises-after-ai-generated-food-images-cause-online-ridicu","headline":"Just Eat apologises after ai-generated food images cause online ridicule","summary":"Just Eat apologized after AI-generated pictures for restaurant menus went viral for being absurd. The platform had been testing AI to create images for dishes lacking photos, but the system produced bizarre results such as bacon and eggs floating in a glass of cola, chips protruding from muffins, cheese rolls turned into sushi, and garlic‑bread shaped like a plane.\n\nA spokesperson told the BBC the company is removing the incorrect images and will pause further AI‑enhanced image generation until the technology is refined. The spokesperson noted that Just Eat works with tens of thousands of small restaurants and funds professional photographers, adding that “as with any new technology, it isn’t always quite right the first time.” Social media users on the Just Eat UK subreddit and Instagram shared the odd pictures, some calling them hilarious, others warning they could mislead customers.\n\nThe episode underscores the practical challenges of deploying generative AI in consumer‑facing services, especially when interpreting ambiguous menu text, and raises questions about brand trust and user expectations.","keyPoints":["Just Eat apologized after AI-generated images showed bizarre dishes like bacon‑egg soda and chips‑in‑muffins.","The company is removing the faulty pictures and pausing AI image creation until the system is further developed.","The mishap highlights difficulties of using generative AI for tens of thousands of small restaurants’ menu photos."],"whyItMatters":"The incident shows how generative AI can produce misleading or absurd visuals when fed ambiguous menu text, risking brand trust and customer decisions for platforms that serve many small restaurants.","category":{"slug":"business","name":"Business & Funding","url":"https://digestai.news/category/business"},"entities":{"companies":["Just Eat"],"models":[],"people":[]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-21T17:04:13Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-21T17:04:13Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"BBC Technology","title":"Just Eat apologises for AI food mistakes after social media ridicule","url":"https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crz981p0klvgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","publishedAt":"2026-10-21T17:04:13Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Just Eat apologises after ai-generated food images cause online ridicule\", 21 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/just-eat-apologises-after-ai-generated-food-images-cause-online-ridicu","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Just Eat apologises after ai-generated food images cause online ridicule","datePublished":"2026-10-21T17:04:13Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/just-eat-apologises-after-ai-generated-food-images-cause-online-ridicu"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}