Some businesses are responding to the overuse of AI-generated posters by creating crudely drawn signs rejecting AI use. Posts with handwritten notes and simple drawings have received tens of thousands of likes on Instagram. Examples include a library and bar posting messages on cardboard and paper signs, respectively, stating their intention not to use AI for promotion. The trend is seen as a reaction to the perceived overuse of AI-generated posters.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In response to the widespread use of AI-generated posters in businesses' advertising, some companies and organizations have started creating their own signs that reject the use of artificial intelligence. These crude, hand-drawn signs have gone viral on Instagram, with many posts receiving tens of thousands of likes. Some examples include a surf lesson coach posting a sign written in pencil on a page of lined paper featuring stick figures smiling at an event, and a library creating a cardboard sign declaring that they will not use AI to create promotional materials. These anti-AI signs are being shared as a way to poke fun at the overuse of AI-generated content.
Written for “Handmade Signs Gain Popularity” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 3055 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-28
In July, we wrote about the ‘ChatGPT flyer pandemic,’ in which, as you’ve surely seen, businesses everywhere are advertising themselves and their products with AI-generated posters that all look the same.
asserted
that → write → posters
They’re all doing it.
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They → do → it
And all the posters suck ass.
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posters → suck → ass
Naturally, a new meta is emerging, where some businesses and organizations are now holding up crudely drawn signs saying they’ll never use AI, or fuck AI, or various things like this.
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they → emerge → this
And people absolutely love it: some of these posts have tens of thousands of likes.
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some → love → likes
“I would rather your event flyer look like this than see more AI slop,” one flyer posted to Instagram, written in pencil on a page of lined paper, reads.
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flyer → look → paper
It then shows a couple of stick figures smiling, with the text “I will come to this event.”
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I → show → event
Another Instagram post has a couple of people from a bar holding a clip board.
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couple → have → board
The hand-written note in one picture says, “We will NOT be using any AI post to promote the following…”
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We → write → following
Other pictures then ask people to apply for job vacancies at the bar.
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pictures → ask → bar
A library posted a very similar message on a piece of cardboard, that reads, “We will not be using AI to create content.”
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We → post → content
A cafe posted a series of photos on Instagram of someone holding a paper sign that says, “We will not be using any AI posters to promote ourselves.
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We → post → ourselves
Instead I will be using this paper and marker pen.”
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I → use → paper
One of the photos adds, “the pancakes are really really GOOD!”
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pancakes → add → photos
“I hear ya’ll hate AI flyers!
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I → hear → flyers
So here I am doing hair,” a hand-written sign from a stylist reads, complete with a picture of someone working on another’s hair.
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sign → do → hair
Rachel Karten, writer of the Link In Bio newsletter, posted some other examples 404 Media came across as well.
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Media → post → examples
This trend will probably go stale fast.
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trend → go → ?
But, hey, jump on it while you can.
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you → jump → it
