Of course I have an opinion on this. And, of course, it's just an opinion. If you're interested:
For better or worse, this is the world we live in now: 100 images generated per second by AI. And you can bet that's going to double or quadruple in the next year or two. That's how computers work, after all.
As I've said numerous times over the last couple years: there has never been a better time in history to NOT be an artist. That is: to make a living as an artist.
I know you're talented. I know you're passionate. I know you've got drive and a burning desire to create. But Right Now is not the time, unfortunately.
That's not to say you should stop. I know you can't. Keep making art that you're inspired to make, just consider a different profession for awhile. I'd suggest a trade. The cost of entry is low (and often subsidized) and the starting salary is generous. The world will never not need electricians and plumbers. Give it a try! At least for now.
Because this AI trend isn't going to last forever. People are going to get tired of looking at it. In time, there will be those who find the old, human-made art and say, "why aren't we doing this anymore?" and BAM! You're suddenly an Artisan, not just an artist. You're a fashionable alternative to what will eventually become so over-saturated that it will be free to produce (most of it is already) and utterly valueless.
This happened to me a couple years ago, when the "art" made by tracing over photos in Photoshop or InDesign was all the rage. There was no line weight or soul to that stuff, and I was making good money and repeat business simply because I can ink with a brush. It was a nice to feel appreciated...as you will see at some point down the road when AI over-saturates everything.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt, as the old saying goes. That time is coming for AI art, I promise.
Between now and That Moment In Time, do something else. Let the fields lie fallow for a couple seasons. Leave your art online, but poison it for the AI crawlers. Keep it for human eyes only.
Between now and That Moment In Time: Endure. Survive. If you're a professional artist, I know you know how to do that.
This won't last forever. It never does.
