It has emerged that Japan Kentucky Fried Chicken has been using generative AI to create some of its product images. On November 10, in an interview with ITmedia NEWS, the company’s public relations department said that generative AI is sometimes used when creating product images for trial-sale menu items such as floats.
Post that attracted attention
Since around the 6th, there has been discussion on X over whether the product images for “Cola Float” and “Melon Soda Float,” which the company is selling exclusively at select stores as trial sales, are AI-generated. For example, in the image of the Melon Soda Float, even the ice is tinted the same dark green as the soda and has a glossy, jelly-like appearance, giving it a look quite different from product photographs taken of the actual item.
When ITmedia NEWS asked whether generative AI had been used for the float images, the company said it was unable to disclose details of each individual production process, but revealed that there are cases in which generative AI is used to create product images for trial-sale menu items.
Melon Soda Float product image (Source: company website)
Meanwhile, the company declined to disclose its reasons and objectives for using generative AI, as well as the production costs and time involved compared with photography, citing internal company information. Regarding whether it would expand its use of generative AI to other product images and promotional materials, it also said, “There is nothing we can say at this time.”
“Sense of incongruity” reactions on social media
That said, there are quite a few negative comments about the float images on social media. Comments on posts that attracted attention included “There’s something off about the image itself,” as well as remarks describing the color of the melon soda as sinister. There were also concerns that its appearance differs from the actual product, and opinions that AI-generated images would damage the brand image.
According to the company, the floats are currently trial-sale items sold only at select stores, and it has not disclosed the number of stores selling them. When the ITmedia NEWS editorial team checked, they found the items on sale at the Akihabara store (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) and other locations.
