I've heard more than once an artist say doing art is the only way to keep themselves from committing suicide. Artists gonna do art.
Another example would be someone who loves to garden. If a gardening robot was invented those people would still garden themselves.
Generative AI allows people without mechanical skill to do art, by iteratively interacting until the AI gets it just right for them, so in that sense generative AI opens up art to many more people.
As for making money from art, I believe we're going to have to implement some sort of universal basic income. I currently don't have to work because I collect social security, so I pursue my hobbies the way most other people on UBI will do.
I think you're defining a very particular type of 'artists', if you broaden the definition then think of graphic designers or concept artists, now thier job has been completely automated.
if you broaden the definition then think of graphic designers or concept artists, now thier job has been completely automated.
Sure, but will that have an effect on art? Most artists I know have day jobs completely unconnected to their art. Even the ones that draw stuff for a living don't consider that drawing their art. After spending all week working in the "drawing factory" they spend their weekends working on their 'real art'.
The only argument I can see is that fewer people will be willing to really learn the craft of drawing/illustration etc. if the chance of getting a day job doing that diminishes greatly.
Making a living from art is something that the majority of artists even before GenAI did not reach.
I agree that it will change things a lot, but fearing the "exctinction of art" is a bit dramatic IMO.