In response to growing customer dissatisfaction, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has announced that the platform will ban AI-generated food images. These images, which were initially introduced to enhance the visual appeal of dishes, have instead led to an increase in customer complaints, breaches of trust, and lower ratings.

Goyal explained that AI-generated images have compromised customer trust, resulting in more refund requests and diminished ratings. In a statement posted on X.com (formerly Twitter), he stressed Zomato’s commitment to removing these images from menus and discouraged their use.

To resolve these issues, Zomato will begin phasing out AI-generated images by the end of the month. Goyal has called on restaurant partners to discontinue the use of AI for marketing purposes and to invest in genuine food photography. To facilitate this transition, Zomato will offer free photography services to its restaurant partners.

Although Zomato will discontinue the PicNic AI tool, which was launched last year to improve food image quality, the company continues to report strong financial performance. In Q1 FY25, Zomato has achieved a 74% increase in revenue and a 126% rise in net profit.