"Real median middle class income has stayed effectively constant since the 1980s"
That's the entire point that was being made in the first place! Productivity has increased massively, income has "stayed constant" - So, we're working harder and producing more for the sole benefit of the rich.
I've seen this argument before.
Maybe if you shill for billionaires a bit harder they'll give you one of their yachts.
This has literally killed games that failed to deliver the reality of their brief to their players. Promise one experience, deliver another, and people quit.
Maybe people are downvoting your replies because this is a commonly discussed and well-studied issue in design circles, but you're failing to understand the problem and dismissing it as a "misguided" concern.
Just because YOU don't think it's a problem doesn't mean it isn't a problem.
The very concept of "commissioning" an "AI artist" is as ridiculous as it is hilarious.
You see... when you "commission an artist" the first thing you have to do is sit down with them, and describe, in detail, what you want.
All an "AI artist" does is feed what you told them into a robot, get a bunch of low quality shitty facsimiles of art out the other end, then select the least bad one to sell you for money.
But... the effort and time it takes to describe your desired image to another person is just the same effort and time as describing your desired image to the robot. All the "artist" does here is slow down the process then charge you money.
Neither is landfill, and both are about as valuable.
I do love when someone jumps in to "well actually" all over people who are just having fun - and their assertions are just wrong.
It's more like commissioning a thief, but sure.
The "constructive criticism" here is "stop making your own stuff and pay someone else to do it for you".
Sure. Let's take 20 years.
Healthcare outcomes are worse. Healthcare is more expensive. Life expectancy is lower. Fewer people can afford to buy a home. Fewer people can afford to retire. Commutes are longer. People have to work more hours in a week to get by. A higher percentage of people are living paycheck to paycheck. Infrastructure is collapsing. Towns are in more debt. Higher education is VASTLY more expensive. Literacy rates have decreased. A vastly higher percentage of people work two jobs to make ends meet A vastly higher percentage of households require two working adults, rather than one working adult, to pay bills.
But sure go off about how it's so great we have the Apple Vision Pro now.