Last month, my favorite local spot posted an absolutely heinous AI generated flyer on their social media accounts. The place is a convenience store, deli, and bar in one - but more importantly, it’s a long standing community-oriented third space frequented by alternative folks. The backlash was immediate and when the business’ initial response was to tell everyone upset that they didn’t create the flyer, they were just sharing it… that didn’t go over well either.
The anger is rightful. When you as a business, venue, shop, market, whatever, attach your name to something, you are communicating your values. It doesn’t matter who wrote the prompt or clicked the button, if your name is attached, you are accountable too. Your people are paying attention to what you stand for, and in subculture spaces they're paying closer attention than anywhere. One AI flyer can undo years of showing up. Don’t mistake loyalty for blind devotion. If you abandon the values you share with the people who are loyal to your business, people have every right to part ways. The simple way to avoid this is to set up an AI Asset Marketing Policy that aligns with your values and stick to it.
How to Build a No-AI Marketing Policy
1. Talk to a lawyer for the legal parts
I'm a marketing person, not an attorney. This is not a guide to writing legal copy. If you want anything in a contract, have a lawyer write or review it for your protection.
2. Set your boundaries
"No AI" sounds simple until you get into the thick of it. Decide what it means for you, and put it in writing.
Is any AI allowed at all? Does it apply to Generative AI or all AI?
Generated images, video, music, and voiceover are the obvious ones, but what about AI-written captions, or an AI tool that cleans up a photo? Canva’s background remover is an AI generation tool, so do you accept that if everything else is up to snuff? Determine your thresholds of what really counts here.
Does it apply to final assets only, or to the whole process, like mockups and brainstorming? Does it apply if one image on the asset is AI generated but the rest isn’t?
Who does it cover?
Think - staff, vendors, freelancers, sponsors, the bands you book, and anyone else who sends you assets.
What happens if something slips through?
Pulled and replaced? A conversation? The end of the working relationship?
How will you check?
AI detection tools are available, Hive Moderation or AI or Not can give you a quick read on an image but they are fallible. You can also lean on the human eye. Ask for the source files, the layered file, the sketches, the in-progress shots, etc. A real artist has a pile of that and is usually happy to share it.
This is a great time to consider your other standards for accepted assets as well. Think about what matters to you about what is tied to your name.
Think through copyright rules, sizing you need for sharing, band guideline alignment, etc.
Blurred lines always get crossed, take your time on this.
3. Build it into how you already work
A policy that isn’t clear and communicated does nothing.
Add it to your onboarding for staff, volunteers, and anyone who touches your socials.
Put a line or clause in your vendor, freelancer, and sponsor agreements.
Add it to your submission guidelines, booking forms, and press kit requests.
Give one person the job of final approval before anything posts.
4. Decide how you'll communicate it
Think about how you already talk to people. If you're a venue, you probably get flyers from bands, sponsor logos, and photos from promoters. If you're a shop, maybe it's collab art and product shots. Whatever your pipeline is, that's where the message belongs - just make sure you communicate it up front, not after an asset is already made. Here's some baseline copy you can use:
For your website or about page:
Everything we post is made by humans. We don't use AI-generated images, video, audio, or art in our marketing, and we don't publish submitted assets that were made with generative AI. Real artists, real work. Questions? Email us at [email].
For the email you send when someone submits an asset:
Thanks so much for sending this over! Quick note: [Business] has a No-AI asset policy, which means we refuse to use artwork, photos, or video that were generated or substantially created with AI tools. Can you confirm this piece is human-made? If you have source files or work-in-progress shots, send those along too. If it doesn't fit our policy, no hard feelings, we'll let you know so you can swap it.
For a submission form checkbox:
I confirm this asset was created by a person and was not generated by AI.
For a vendor or freelancer agreement (have your lawyer sign off on the real wording):
Vendor represents that all deliverables are original works created by humans and were not generated using generative AI tools.
5. Build your list of local artists
When you’re enforcing a rule, make sure you have a solution ready for those who have trouble following it. People will ask you who you recommend that is affordable, talented, and timely.
Build out a list of those folks. You can put out an open call, list artists you’ve worked with in the past, ask your staff for recommendations, or seek out artists in your own way - but build a list. Make it local if you can and built from your own community.
6. Have a plan for when something slips through
It will, eventually. Determine what happens next. At the end of the day, you have to decide how you take accountability.
7. Revisit it
Things are always changing. Take a look at your policy at least twice a year and make sure it aligns with your standards and values.
The Bottom Line
A No-AI policy only works if it's specific, if it's built into how you operate, and if there's a real human alternative waiting on the other side. Saying you're against AI slop is easy, but doing the work of setting the rules, telling people before they make something, and paying actual artists is the part that counts.
My favorite local spot? They didn't do anything evil. They just didn't have a policy defining where they stood, so nothing stopped it. Don't wait for the comments section to write yours for you.
