Adam Jones, the 53-year-old owner of Myer's Bagels in Burlington, Vermont, issued an apology after using artificial intelligence to generate social media posts for his Montreal-style bagel shop. The move backfired, leading to a wave of one-star reviews on Google and Yelp.
Jones, who has owned the shop for over a decade, told Business Insider that he initially used AI to craft posts about the business's history and bagel-making process. However, customers noticed the posts lacked authenticity and criticized the use of AI for personal storytelling. 'I thought it would save time, but it came off as insincere,' Jones said.
The backlash prompted Jones to delete the AI-generated posts and publicly apologize on the shop's social media accounts. He also pledged to return to writing his own content. 'I learned that people want to hear from me, not a machine,' he added.
As of May 2026, Myer's Bagels continues to operate, with Jones focusing on rebuilding trust with customers through transparent communication and handmade bagels.
