Is "AI Art" Real Art? Maybe, But That’s the Wrong Question. What Everyone’s Missing in the AI Art Debate

So ChatGPT dropped this Ghibli-style image generator, and here we go again, everyone’s losing their sh*t over "AI artists." People from both sides are back at it, arguing if AI generated images are real art or not. But honestly? Both sides are kinda missing the point. (this could be an interesting debate but in my opinion as of now not the most important one) This isn’t just about what counts as art. It’s about the shift AI is bringing — not just in visuals, but across every creative and business field. The conversation isn’t just “is this art?” it’s “what does this mean for how we work, create, and build?” So if you’re wondering what the fuss is really about, and what all this actually means for the future of creatives, businesses, and the job market — let’s dive in.

What is (AI) ✨ Art ✨ exactly?

That word artist... we throw it around so loosely these days, it’s basically meaningless. What even is an artist? A sculptor? A painter? A digital illustrator? Because when digital art first popped off, traditional artists trashed it and called it not real art. Is Van Gogh a real artist? In his time he was ridiculed and trashed for his work being too "simple."

People love to gatekeep things they don't understand, until it's their turn to be on the chopping block. You tell me: is an In-between animator an artist if all they do is draw frames for someone else’s vision? They don’t make the story. They’re not the director. They’re a cog in a machine. An important one, sure, but still executing, not creating. Are they any different from AI that follows prompts?

If art is about creativity, then yes, AI-generated images can absolutely count. A thoughtfully written, original prompt that creates something bizarre and new, that’s more "creative" than tracing some anime figure for the 40th time, changing the color of their hair and calling them OCs (original characters)

But if art is about skill, then AI doesn’t count, ...and neither does 90% of the stuff people post on ArtStation, Instagram, or DeviantArt. But here’s the thing: this isn’t even really about art. I went to art school. (I know,, you probably just closed this tab thinking “why an artsy b*tch is here to talk about the economy and business, but hang with me.) One of my teachers was a storyboard artist for Guardians of the Galaxy and other Marvel classics. He told us something I never forgot on our first Storyboarding lecture. I quote:

"You have to know how to tell stories, drawing is a trade. You can learn that, but you have to know how to tell good stories"

Let that sink in. Because most of the time, and for most professionals art isn't self-expression. It’s work.The underpaid animator drawing every in-between frame by hand.The comic artist grinding line work for someone else’s script.The graphic designer making dry-as-hell corporate slides. The freelancer designing yet another f*cking cybersecurity eBook cover. ( worked a lot and saw a lot in the industry) Art — in that world — isn’t art. It’s output. It’s production.

What does this mean for, founders, entrepreneurs & businesses?

Visuals are just tools. Many so-called "artists" scream that you should “pick up a pencil” or “learn how to draw.” But... why exactly?

• A screenwriter only needs concept images to pitch his story better.

• An independent director only needs images for his storyboard so he can follow it while shooting his movie.

• A shitty finance guru who posts "the 1000% win strategy" only needs a thumbnail so he can shill his course to 14-year-old kids.

They don’t care who made the image. They care that it works. That it gets clicks, communicates the vibe, or helps close a deal. So when people scream “AI is stealing art,” what they’re really saying is: “I don’t know how to compete anymore.”

Teams are getting smaller over time — that’s how tech and AI actually take jobs.Ten years ago, a marketing agency had at least 5–6 members: two screenwriters, two designers, a videographer/editor, a typographer, a marketing director, a marketing technician, a website developer. Now, the same agency can do more work with 2–3 highly skilled marketing MacGyvers, plus AI tools and automations — not just ChatGPT, but a whole lineup of others. Or an even simpler example:Ten years ago, you saw 10 cashiers in a supermarket. Now it’s one lady managing 10 self-checkouts.

What this means for the economy:

• Barriers are dropping. Small studios, indie creators, and solo builders suddenly have access to visual tools they couldn’t afford before.

• Stories will multiply. More weird, interesting, creative sh*t will come out from people who previously had no way to bring their ideas to life.

• Entry-level creative jobs will take a hit. and that will affect the creative industry for sure.The boring, monotonous stuff, In-betweens, basic layouts, mockup renders — AI eats those alive.

• Skill value will shift. Just like penmanship stopped mattering once we got typewriters, the idea of "being able to draw clean lines" might not mean much soon. Unless it’s paired with something else — storytelling, originality, taste.

So what’s the conclusion?

Maybe it's this: Art, in its traditional sense — breaking boundaries and self-expression — won’t die. It will never die, in my opinion. It just changes. It moved from cave walls to cathedrals, from oil paintings to Photoshop, from tablets to prompts. Creative jobs, on the other hand, will take a hit. And that sucks if you work in the industry — even more if you're trying to break into it. And yeah, it sounds scary. I get it. But love it or hate it, tech never moves backwards. Even after the discovery of the atom bomb, a literal world-ending weapon, it stuck. We didn’t throw it away. And we’ll do the same with AI.

If you are a creative my advice is this: either be among the first to adapt — use AI and work hand in hand with it — or despise it and find a segment of the market where you won’t get left behind by not using it. Or just quit art altogether and get into trading 😂If you do, check out some of our other articles — we’ve got a ton of content on that.