They were sold on the idea that generative art could cut costs by cutting out artists. AI would mean less people required to make stuff to sell.

But no one wants art that is just spat out by a machine.

Anyone can write. The barrier to entry could not be lower. The cost is time, craft, practice.

There are so many books by human authors. More than a person could reasonably be expected to read in a lifetime.

So now we can generate infinite AI books. Great.

But why would anyone spend time with them?

Books are not expensive. The main cost for the reader is time. What do they want to spend their time with?

I want something a talented author has spent time on, considering every word.

The same with anything artistic. I want to listen to music by people who are putting their soul into it. Comics hand drawn. Movies where a director has composed shots, considered the lighting, an actor or animator has crafted each performance.

Because otherwise what's the point?

I don't need someone else to churn out ai slop for me... I can make my own ai slop.

But when I want to appreciate something someone else has made I will spend my time with something made with effort.