The truth is most paying artists were just average, like every human is just average at his job and hence very susceptible to be replaced by automation. I agree that AI art does not replace “artists” who try to express their ideals etc through their art, as in, make “real” art, but it definitely does replace the 50000th “artist” who spent their days doing vector corporate memphis graphics for some company. I mean, how much personal expression really is there in such a work? Probably about as much as I get doing CRUDs all day. I guess in one or two years a lot of programmers will be on the chopping block too, and the reasoning is exactly the same.
I am sure top of the line corporate artists will still continue to get jobs, and the rest imo should get some form of UBI and get to spend time doing “real” art, with or without the aid of AI tools. I have compassion towards the people who will lose jobs, or want to get into the field and can’t, and I hope a solution is found even if it’s after this transitory period.