AI Posters: Local Controversies and Online Fatigue

Between Strasbourg and Rouen, official visuals generated by AI have sparked reactions from illustrators and collectives. Meanwhile, a French-speaking subreddit has gathered around 124,000 members around a rejection of standardized images. A researcher points to training corpora that favor an aesthetic "smoothing" and also raises an ethical issue.

Strasbourg and Rouen Confronted with Official AI-Generated Visuals

In April 2026, the City of Strasbourg presented the poster for its carnival during the 11th edition of the Illustration Meetings. A few days later, France 3 Alsace revealed that this visual had been generated by AI, which illustrator Clémence Dupont had suspected, not recognizing any local artist's style. According to Pokaa, the agency Welcome Byzance, commissioned by the City for three years, had proposed three options, two of which came from image generators, and the communication department chose one of them for budgetary reasons. Clémence Dupont criticizes this use of AI by a public entity, arguing that cultural funds should benefit cultural actors, especially in a city that claims to be the capital of illustration. A similar case occurred in Rouen in the fall of 2025, with the release of an "Icy Rouen" poster generated by AI, followed by a similar video for a Christmas sweater contest. The collective Autrices & Auteurs Rouen states that it has called out the authorities and organized itself to influence public services, considering that these practices reflect a view of creative professions as passion-driven jobs detached from material realities. The collective recalls that previously, organizations created their own visuals or allocated a budget, rather than invoking financial arguments.

Standardized Images and an Ethical Debate, According to a Researcher

Alberto Romele, a lecturer at Sorbonne University and a specialist in the imaginaries of artificial intelligence, links the aesthetics of AI-generated images to training corpora, particularly from image banks like Shutterstock or Getty Images. According to him, the models reproduce the "smoothing" of these catalogs, producing bland and generic visuals that contribute to a culture of consumption. He believes that the issue posed by these images is not only their kitschy appearance but also an ethical dimension. On the ground, Clémence Dupont finds these posters often bland, even when they seem successful, and believes they tell no story.

An Online Counter-Movement Gathers 124,000 Members in Nine Months

The subreddit IaCaca has emerged as a space for discussion and critique around AI-related productions, inviting users to share their failures and the issues they raise. In nine months, around 124,000 members have joined. The feed is fueled by numerous AI-generated content, from overloaded menus to yellowed comics and distorted illustrations. Its creator, b3n33333, trained in the book industry and inspired by neo-Luddism, explains that he perceived a lack of French-language resources on AI. He also observes a resurgence of interest in "old-school" posters, crafted on Paint or Word, often shared in the categories "human response" or "guaranteed AI-free." The forum is described as a rallying point for users disillusioned by AI, its omnipresence, and its perceived mediocrity.

In Public Spaces, the Democratization of AI Changes Displays

The democratization of generative AI over the past two years has accelerated its adoption by various entities, from small businesses to event organizers and some local authorities. This diffusion promotes a standardization that makes these posters easier to spot. Clémence Dupont notes this usage especially among restaurateurs and kiosks, and believes that resorting to AI for cultural events can be counterproductive. This movement contrasts with a time when associations and businesses created their visuals in-house, using office tools and various effects, an artisanal aesthetic that filled shop windows, neighborhood networks, and municipal boards.