r/SantaFe • u/aliaiacitest • 12h ago
Done supporting businesses that use AI image generation for art or marketing in a state full of artists
I want to say upfront: I am not an anti AI crusader. I use AI, mostly to do mathy or computer type things that i can do anyways, since that’s the only way to make sure the ai is doing what you want- to be able to do it yourself so you can check the work. If the task can be done by a human, and I can’t do it, I hire someone to do it. When you account for labor time, it’s always cheaper and better than using AI. Always.
So here is my real rant:
Dear Santa Fe Business Owners:
Your AI slop makes me want to not spend money at your store or restaurant. Makes me not want to hire you for a service.
When I see it on social media, I scroll past or block. When I see it in your window or on a display stand outside (that cost more than hiring someone to make the sign) i walk by, I take note, I don’t support. Especially signs, artwork, and marketing.
Why?
Because Santa Fe, and New Mexico in general has so much artistic talent, and so much of that talent struggles to make a living with their art.
Most artists do not survive alone off of their “fine art” production, but rather use commercial gigs and jobs to make money to support the other art. Even wildly famous artists do this, and have forever. Da Vinci was commissioned for the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo for the Sistine Chappel, Kieth herring did commissioned advertising work, Warhol, you name a famous artist, and commercial work helped them survive.
When I walk by one of those piss yellow flyers, it makes me so mad. That could be something beautiful and creative, from a human mind and hand, adding to our beautiful city instead of making it gross and commercial. I expect that’s hit in New York City, or Dallas, or some other place where the commercial aesthetic reigns supreme, but not here. Here, I expect someone to find an artist to make your poster, your ad, your flyer. I know so many people with talent. Are they Michelangelo? No, of course not. But can they make an amazing flyer or ad material for your store or event? Absolutely.
All of these big corporations make it clear: we are the product, and separating us from our money for the least amount of value in exchange is the game.
I shop locally, which costs me more time and money than doing a one stop shop at Walmart. I do this because I care about the local businesses and how they contribute to what makes this town magical. How Is it fair to ask me to go out of my way and expend more resources than necessary to support your small business, when you don’t even show me you care enough to have a human convince me to come into your store or to your event? If you want robots in your shop, use robots to advertise. If you want people in your shop, try hiring people to create something real for you.
So I’m done. This holiday season, whatever you’re selling, if you have ai do your advertising, I’m not buying. I’ll find somewhere or something else. I will happily support your competitors who support local creatives and artists. The money will stay in Santa Fe.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’m just so sick of it. It feels offensive to me at this point, every time I see a frivolous ai thing that has escaped a screen, I want to tear it down.
Does anyone else feel the same?
