Funny

I mean that's where the whole term artisanal comes in. People place more value on things that were crafted by hand end to end as opposed to manufactured using an industrial process. That's why I don't really see image generation replacing traditional art. People still paint on canvas even though photoshop exists, and we tend to place more value on a physical painting than a digital one.

I'd argue AI generated content serves a different purpose from high art though, same way a mug made in a factory coexists with artisanal mugs you'd attach sentimental value to. For example, take the whole Iranian Lego videos that turned out to be extremely effective propaganda. Nobody would argue they're high art you'd display in a gallery, but they are effective, they evoke an emotional response, and they convey the message in a clever and creative way.

Before AI tools were available, the US effectively had a monopoly on such messaging because it was a highly labor intensive process that could only be accomplished by skilled 3d artists. It took a company the size of Pixar to produce something equivalent. But now, this process has been democratized, and a small studio in Iran can punch way above their weight to challenge imperial propaganda.

I think that's where the real value for this stuff comes in. Iran proved that we can use it for effective messaging. We can make memes and catchy short videos that promote our ideas and do it in a way that connects with people.