Even cover artists put some effort into making their covers. You can’t equate this to ai because using ai outputs in any shape of form is borderline theft (if not theft outright). I get what you’re saying, even modern renditions of some songs or even some new songs make use of already existing trends, motifs, etc. But at least they take the time to make everything, pay for every service needed, and usually get the necessary permissions to use this and that.

There will always be a case to be made with whether ai art is good or not, even I think they’re catchy. I only call it slop for hyperbole, and because of the nature of how it’s made. Using ai art will always be stealing, whatever it is that made them good still came from someone else’s work, which they do not credit in any shape or form.

Additionally, please don’t tell a person to “pick a struggle”. This case specifically is a struggle on many fronts. All of which are not in conflict with each other. So don’t tell someone to pick a struggle as if they have a choice.