LLMs and image generation models make it even more difficult for artists and thinkers, who are already in a precarious situation, to make a living from their work. This is not a recent development, as evidenced by the fact that they have been referred to indiscriminately as merely content producers for decades, which gives the loss of value of their important work a telling name even in today’s logic.
This professional group has not received adequate financial recognition for its work, - tbh they never did - but their situation has become way worse since the advent of the World Wide Web.
Still: Today’s technology in the form of so-called AI intensives this problem to an unprecedented degree.
So: Have we reached the end of culture and are we now entering an age of absolute dullness in which there can no longer be a critical spirit, but only amateurish work and industrially mass-produced corporate views? All that however far removed from the craftsmanship that has so significantly shaped the culture of all civilizations throughout the world’s history for so long?
What does that add to the statement in the post? There are hundreds of thousands of such examples.
It doesn’t change the statement: writers, artists, and all other creative professions are now in a much worse position than they have been ever before - and yes, disproportionate pay for even extraordinary achievements has always been been the case historically for these very important people. But with LLMs we have reached the point where it’s not even enough for a dream scenario. There is no business model for this anymore.
There is no longer any money to be made because consumers do not pay for quality, but for mass and free content. The best example of this is the decline of journalism, which had always been financed mainly by advertising - this has not worked for twenty years because Google and social media platforms have completely taken over this business, which is why there is no longer any serious journalism today. It can no longer be financed because consumers cannot cover the costs, even if they wanted to, which is the case at all.
Basically, what you’re saying is the philosophical equivalent of saying music is dead because people aren’t interested in opera any more.
Try looking around a bit. A few years ago, Marvel Comics did a story line called “Civil War.” The government asked all the heroes to register. Iron Man and Spider-Man said yet, Captain America and his allies said no.
Plenty of discussions of the rights and responsibilities of the heroes.
Or watch a show called ‘Pluribus.’ Or any oldie but goody called "The Prisoner.’ Or ‘The Good Place.’
Heck, the trolley problem is on the front page here every day.
No, what I’m saying is that the people that draw the marvle comics, animate them or write the plot won’t make a living from that anymore for much longer. It’s really as simple as that. Why? Because they make their living creative work, which is great.
But they already earn their living more from autographs at conventions than from the payment for their outstanding work. That too will soon be a thing of the past, because Marvel will not be renewing their contracts - leaving these talented people out on the street because they can no longer sign autographs if they are neither authors nor illustrators, nor animators or whater.
Look at OnlyFans.
A quick look shows that a few folks there are making a lot of money. $200,000 a year. Others make a good deal less.
That’s always been the case with creative folks. A few will rise to the top, and the rest are going to be amateurs.
Fine dining didn’t die when fast food was invented, and live music held its own even after recordings became a thing.