07/07/2026
⚠️ Have you ever seen an event flyer, product ad, or business post that looked so AI generated that you stopped and wondered…
“Is this even real?”
Keep reading.
That split second of doubt might only last a moment, but for businesses, it’s a moment that matters.
This is not an anti AI post.
I use AI in my own business every week. It’s an incredible tool for brainstorming ideas, organizing information, speeding up repetitive tasks, improving workflows, and increasing efficiency.
But after reading several consumer studies over the past few years, I started thinking differently about one specific use of AI.
Should it be the face of your business?
Your logo.
Your event flyers.
Your sale graphics.
Your social media posts.
Your product photos.
Your marketing is often the very first impression someone has of your business. If that first impression causes people to pause and question whether your business, event, or product is legitimate, your marketing has already introduced something every marketer tries to avoid.
Friction.
What’s interesting is that these concerns haven’t disappeared as AI has become more advanced. If anything, recent research suggests they’ve become even more important.
Independent consumer research from Deloitte and Adobe has consistently found that as AI becomes more common, consumers are placing an even greater value on authenticity, transparency, and trust.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Connected Consumer Survey, 74% of people familiar with generative AI say its growing popularity has made it harder to trust what they see online. 82% are concerned AI could be misused by bad actors, and 58% reported experiencing at least one AI related scam attempt over the past year, including deepfakes, fake profiles, voice cloning, and phishing.
Adobe’s 2026 AI and Digital Trends Report found that one in three consumers say they would disengage from a brand after discovering content was AI generated, and 37% said they would disengage if they expected a human interaction but later discovered they were interacting with AI. Adobe concluded that trust and transparency are becoming increasingly important as AI becomes more integrated into everyday customer experiences.
These findings build on Adobe’s 2024 “Authenticity in the Age of AI” study, where 87% of U.S. consumers said generative AI had made it harder to tell what was real online, 74% said they had questioned the authenticity of photos and videos, and 93% said it was important to know how digital content was created.
Now put yourself in your customer’s shoes.
When someone sees an event flyer that looks obviously AI generated, they aren’t necessarily thinking…
“AI is bad.”
Instead, they may start asking questions they never would have asked otherwise.
• Is this event actually happening?
• Is this business legitimate?
• Will the product actually look like that?
• Is this another scam?
Whether those questions last two seconds or twenty, they’ve already shifted from interest to uncertainty.
That’s the opposite of what great branding is supposed to do.
Great branding builds confidence.
It makes people feel safe.
It removes doubt before someone has even read your message.
And I think that’s where businesses have an incredible opportunity right now.
As AI generated marketing becomes more common, authenticity is becoming a competitive advantage.
Businesses that invest in thoughtful branding, professional design, real photography, and marketing that feels genuine have an opportunity to separate themselves in a way that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.
Not because they have the flashiest graphics.
Not because they spend the most money.
But because their business feels real.
Their marketing doesn’t require a second thought.
Their customers don’t have to wonder if the event is legitimate, if the business is real, or if the product will actually match what they’re seeing.
In an online world where trust is becoming harder to earn, that confidence is one of the most valuable assets a business can build.
So before asking…
“Can AI make this for me?”
Maybe ask something even more important.
If AI saves me a few hundred dollars on marketing today, but causes potential customers to hesitate, question my legitimacy, or scroll past because something feels “off,” did it actually save me money?
The businesses that thrive in the AI era won’t necessarily be the ones using AI the most.
They’ll be the ones using AI strategically behind the scenes while making sure their customers never have to question what’s front and center.
Because in today’s market, the businesses that feel authentic won’t just stand out.
They’ll be the businesses people trust.
In a world where almost anyone can generate a graphic in 30 seconds, trust may become the most valuable thing your marketing can communicate.
Sources: Adobe, Authenticity in the Age of AI (2024); Adobe, AI and Digital Trends Report (2026); Deloitte, 2025 Connected Consumer Survey.
💬 I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever questioned whether a business, event, or product was real because of how AI generated the marketing looked?
