Pushback grows against local AI graphics

Driving the news: Mayor Quinton Lucas on Tuesday said city departments "don't have to use AI slop with fake skylines," referencing KC Fire Department posts that were labeled "AI content" and included incorrect images of the city.

The latest: Fire department battalion chief Michael Hopkins told Axios that Lucas was correct about the posts and that edits had been made.

• In both cases, skylines that included incorrect buildings were removed from the graphic, as were the "AI content" labels.

What they're saying: "AI is a part of the world we live in and will only continue to grow," Hopkins says, but "we must be vigilant in ensuring its accuracy."

Case in point: Businesses are increasingly feeling the heat over AI images. The announcement Monday that local sandwich shop Car No. 551 was closing also drew criticism of the business' apparent use of AI-generated advertising.

• One social media commenter wrote, "They used ai signage for advertising all around it. Glad it failed."
• Car No. 551 didn't respond to Axios' request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Zoom out: 49% of Americans feel negatively about AI ad content, compared with 19% who have a positive view and the rest with neither, per a recent Gallup poll.

• A little over half of respondents said it was OK to generate images.

The bottom line: As AI use grows, so does its scrutiny across the city.