While I wholeheartedly agree that universal basic income should be a thing, I still think it’s deeply problematic that unthinking machines replace people specifically in fields of artistic expression.

While AI can produce pretty convincing images in many styles, the actual expression of experience, feelings and general humanity is gone. Even disregarding the hardship of the artists being replaced (or assuming UBI will be a satisfying solution for them), that loss in itself is a good enough reason to be skeptical.

The main reason for the existence of art is to share human experience, and to be able to experience the world from another perspective than your own. This is a hugely important role in society that is very easily overlooked, and one that is completely lost with naïve use of AI.