AI slop serves up anti-migrant sentiment at Bunnings -…
An AI-generated image falsely depicting Indian food at a Bunnings sausage sizzle was used to spread anti-migrant sentiment online in early 2026
- Incident date
- Jan 2026
- Target
- Bunnings
In January 2026, an AI-generated image circulated on social media falsely suggesting that the hardware retailer Bunnings had replaced its traditional sausage sizzle with an Indian food stand. The post, which sparked anti-migrant commentary, claimed that Australian culture was being erased by diversity initiatives.
What happened
The viral image featured several men standing under a gazebo at a Bunnings store, accompanied by a sign reading Authentic Indian Food and trays of various Indian dishes. The content was shared on Facebook with inflammatory text alleging that the company had abandoned its core traditions. However, the image contained clear technical artifacts of AI synthesis, such as sauce bottles that appeared to merge into one another.
Further investigation confirmed the image was manipulated; OpenAI’s verification tools identified a digital SynthID watermark, indicating it was produced using generative AI. The fraudulent post was based on a genuine photograph from January 3, 2026, which showed a standard, traditional sausage sizzle featuring only sausages, onions, bread, and condiments. Bunnings confirmed that the image was fake and that the company had not altered its official sausage sizzle policy, which restricts menu items exclusively to standard fare.