alt Hacker News> Just as an example: I've heard people express AI produced stuff to not qualify as art (philosophically and in terms of output quality) but at the same express deep concern how tech companies will replace artists...
I don't think this is self contradictory at all.
One may have beliefs about the meaning of human produced art and how it cannot -- and shouldn't -- be replaced by AI, and at the same time believe that companies will cut costs and replace artists with AI, regardless of any philosophical debates. As an example, studio execs and producers are already leveraging AI as a tool to put movie industry professionals (writers, and possibly actors in the future) "in their place"; it's a power move for them, for example against strikes.
Yeah, I know that's the theory, but if AI generated art is slop then it follows that it can't actually replace quality art.
I don't think people will suddenly accept worse standards for art, and anyone producing high quality work will have a significant advantage.
And now if your argument is that the average consumer can't tell the difference, then well for mass production does the difference actually matter?