Do customers trust AI pictures on social media?
Many customers don't trust AI pictures yet. In Clutch's survey of 601 consumers in August 2026, 53% said they were less likely to buy from brands they know use AI in social media content, and 64% would trust a brand less if AI was used to misrepresent its products. Getty Images' VisualGPS research found 98% of people agree that authentic images and videos are pivotal to trust, and nearly nine in ten want to know whether an image was made with AI.
Source: Getty Images VisualGPS, “Building Trust in the Age of AI”, 2024
When should a business use its own photos?
A business should use a real photo whenever the post shows something a customer will buy or meet: your products, your food, your space, your team, a finished job, or a customer with their permission. These are the pictures people check against reality, and the ones a fake would cost you. A phone, a window and a clean background are enough for most of them.
Where do AI pictures help a business on social media?
AI pictures are good at the things you can't easily photograph. Use them for seasonal and holiday art, textures and backgrounds, a mood board before a shoot, a concept for a post you haven't made yet, or a stand-in so a campaign can be planned before the photos exist. Each one should look like your brand, and none should claim to be your product.
How do you swap AI pictures for real photos?
Treat an AI picture as a brief for a photo. If a stand-in works, it tells you the angle, light and props to shoot, so take the real photo and replace it before the post goes out, or in next month's version. Keep a short list of shots you still need, and tick them off as you take them.
Should a business say when a picture is made with AI?
If a picture could be mistaken for a real photo of your business, say so in the caption, or use a real photo instead. Being open costs little, and in Clutch's survey 64% said they'd trust a brand less if AI was used to misrepresent its products.
How does Loomis Social handle pictures?
Loomis Social lets you add your own photos and videos to any post. When you want an AI picture, it makes one to match your brand's mood board on the model you choose, shows the credit cost first, and every picture waits for approval before it can go on a post.
