Then AI arrived. It didn't take away the parts I was bad at. It took away the parts I loved β the creation from zero to one. Exploring directions, finding the feel, refining details. AI handles all of that now. What's left? Reviewing its output and fixing what it got wrong.
Like automatic cooking machines β the fun stir-frying goes to the machine, and you're still stuck with cleanup.
The most absurd part: now you're judged by how well you use AI. Quality takes a back seat to prompt skills.
The old me who tossed and turned over making good work β at least that pain had direction: learn, practice, try again. Now the suffering is knowing the creative part is being automated away. I didn't get into this field to save time. I got into it to make things.