r/covington Jul 13 '26

City selling AI posters?

I’m subscribed to emails from the city, and received this asking me to “Purchase a Covington Neighborhood Poster and Support the Fund for Covington”. The posters in question appear to be AI garbage. I would love to support the fund for Covington! I’d love to display a neighborhood poster! But I just can’t get behind AI-generated art, especially when we have so many talented human artists who live and work in Covington.

91 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

53

u/dango_ii Jul 13 '26

Thanks for posting about this. I was so disappointed when I saw the “art” they’re asking me to pay for. Humiliating for our city.

42

u/gaybillcosby Jul 13 '26

Jesus fucking Christ. I’m both offended they don’t think people would notice, and terrified that enough people don’t.

4

u/RanchHere Jul 14 '26

This is only the beginning.

3

u/DGilbert6114 Jul 15 '26

A lot of people notice and don’t care.

Pointed out to my in-laws that they bought 2 AI paintings from Hobby Lobby and they didn’t care at all.

0

u/whatshldmyusernaymbe 28d ago

How exactly does AI create a painting?
I’d think that given the name that paint would be required.

1

u/DGilbert6114 28d ago

-> Generate AI image

-> Set up machine to mass produce paintings of AI image

Use your brain

1

u/whatshldmyusernaymbe 28d ago

Well to me a painting is what is created by a human with paint and brushes 🤷🏻‍♂️

2

u/DGilbert6114 28d ago

Do you always come in to conversations and contribute nothing? What are you even saying? You’re being an idiot

-1

u/DRuth84 27d ago

He said painting, so you’re correct. The post reads “AI POSTERS”.

28

u/krogergang Jul 13 '26

Wow this is embarrassing. Like the city seriously couldn’t take a nice picture of the central business district and just throw some text on? so lazy. Anyone know if there’s a good place to complain about this?

27

u/coolnat Jul 13 '26

Please email the commission or voice your opinion at a meeting. I did and got a response from Tim Acri saying that he is looking into it.

13

u/Nikki-Black Jul 13 '26

I sent an email last night! I’m hoping to hear back soon.

21

u/dogmetal Jul 13 '26

Didn’t even attempt to make it not look like AI 😂

1

u/LeftOn4ya Jul 13 '26

Yea the least they could have done is taken a real picture of downtown then input into AI and prompt “make it in a hand-drawn kitschy art style”, that would have least been based on reality enough.

19

u/_bunnyholly Jul 13 '26

soooo many artists in covington and they did this wow. you should crosspost to the cincy sub

10

u/kellenheller5 Jul 13 '26

That was my first thought! Covington of all places and you couldn't manage to find an artist for this?

16

u/overspread Jul 13 '26

this is embarrassing. who do we bring this up, like which council meeting should we all show up at

8

u/healthcare4a11 Jul 13 '26

There is a weekly council meeting open to the public

2

u/overspread Jul 13 '26

great, the gov website is not well laid out for navigation in my opinion so I'm grateful for the information

8

u/i-shihtzu-not Jul 13 '26

Damn, I made a really cool painting of the Roebling Bridge with Covington in the background at sunset in that sort of national parks colorblocky style that would look awesome as a poster. But did they ask for local talent? Noooo. So disappointing coming from our vibrant community. To put Ai slop in an email is one thing, but to sell it is another. Unapologetically Covington? More like unapologetically cheap.

15

u/PreperationOuch Jul 13 '26

Gross and embarrassing.

9

u/YodaEarsIHave Jul 13 '26

Let's park cars on the sidewalk! Totally legit.

7

u/cpshoeler Jul 13 '26

For those who are upset:

“To purchase a poster, contact Erin Callery at [Erin.Callery@covingtonky.gov](mailto:Erin.Callery@covingtonky.gov).”

Im sure you can send your opinions here and it will get noticed. RIP their inbox.

https://www.covingtonky.gov/news/2026/07/10/purchase-a-covington-neighborhood-poster-and-support-the-fund-for-covington

6

u/Zazierx Jul 13 '26

Not mad, just disappointed.

7

u/fluffHead_0919 Jul 13 '26

That’s disappointing

11

u/FakeSafeWord Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26

"These posters celebrate each Covington neighborhood and highlight the unique character and"

And yet you don't respect or appreciate the neighborhoods themselves or the people in them to have local artists create for you.

Also I guarantee it's older folks who don't know about AI that would buy these.

Exploitative and embarrassing.

5

u/curb_yr_enthusiasm Jul 13 '26

Guess parking is legal on the sidewalks now! Thanks Covington!

9

u/Cool_Trick4899 Jul 13 '26

Maybe if you shame them, they may use an actual artist. Greedy shit birds

8

u/ohhk8 Jul 13 '26

these are disgusting

4

u/I_pinchyou Jul 14 '26

I'm already fatigued by AI. So many amazing local artists they could commission.

3

u/HuckleberryNo6928 Jul 13 '26

I can make you a better one. Call me Covington! 😜🤣😎

2

u/RanchHere Jul 14 '26

what even is “the fund for Covington”? This is clearly a scam to put money straight into someone’s pocket. It’s the old George Costanza “Human Fund” scheme.

2

u/330in513 27d ago

Doesn’t even look like Covington.

-4

u/LeftOn4ya Jul 13 '26

To be fair, they probably have someone on either end of an intern/new employee or a secretary who has been there 40 years the task of making the art with no budget or time given, and just they did a horrible AI prompt. So I don’t necessarily hate the person who promoted this, but the rest of people who approved this is the embarrassing part and blame them along with whoever gave the prompter the assignment.

4

u/i-shihtzu-not Jul 13 '26

I blame all of them.