Pinterest is leaning hard into AI. The strategy is alienating its most dedicated users

Pinterest once served as a haven from fast-talking commentary on TikTok and relatives arguing over politics on Facebook. Now it's full of AI-generated content and ads. Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty Images New York —

Abigail Wendling, 23, uses Pinterest to curate everything in her life, from recipes to wallpapers. At least until she saw a one-eyed cat when searching for a wallpaper. In another instance, a search for healthy recipes turned up a puzzling image showing a slice of cooked chicken with seasonings sprinkled inside it.

These posts were created by generative AI, which is quickly overtaking the photo-first platform. Pinterest, like other social media platforms, has grappled with a flood of AI slop since the launch of ChatGPT’s Sora video generation tool in 2024. The company