The tech industry never ceases to amaze me with its audacious pricing strategies, and Adobe’s latest move in the stock photo marketplace has left me genuinely baffled. They’re currently allowing sellers to list AI-generated images for prices that would make even the most seasoned subscription service executive blush - $80 for a simple JPEG of an alligator? Really?

Looking at the image in question, it’s not even particularly impressive. It’s the kind of output you could get from any number of free AI image generators available today. The democratization of AI image generation tools means anyone with a decent internet connection can create similar (or better) images within minutes.

The other day, I spotted a peculiar sign at a coastal restaurant that made me do a double-take. A surcharge for every payment method? Not just the usual weekend or public holiday loading, but an additional fee regardless of whether you’re paying by card or cash, any day of the week. Something didn’t add up.

Let’s break down this mathematical creativity: 3% surcharge on weekdays, 10% on weekends, and a whopping 20% on public holidays. All this before you even decide how to pay. It’s like being charged extra for the privilege of… well, being a customer.