I think this is only true in a vague and abstract way. In reality, AI devalues labor (in general) and the worth of artists (in specific).
Good art requires good patronage and institutional support in turn. No one will have time to produce the next Mona Lisa if they're barely able to make end's meet working a slavish factory job. That's doubly true when the vocations that supported artists—either antiquated, modern, or contemporary (painter, typesetter, graphic designer, etc.)—vanish because AI can do "just about as well."
Art isn't just a divine presence gracing the souls of those deemed most worthy, it's a collection of skills and knowledge that must be built by community over decades of struggle.
On top of the generation of slop, AI is removing some of the final protections that hold these pillars up. That is what should keep us up at night.
As a fellow resident of Japan, I find this sorta question very funny.
People naturally romanticize food of foreign cultures, but I can't help but giggle at the crazy hype given to Japanese food in particular. Especially considering how 'bland' the food is (at least, how bland it is to the American sensibility).
These days, I direct touristing friends towards foreigner-friendly restaurants that promise some sort of food "experience" (at the prices you'd expect)...while I mosey over to the nearest salaryman friendly hole-in-the-wall for some plain zaru soba or udon. One part because I'm eternally broke, and another because I genuinely like it more than the ungodly katsu-don concoctions larger than the standard birth weight.
Not that there isn't interesting 名物 depending on the region (although naturally the 名物 of Tokyo might as well be Taco Bell), but I've always found my friends to be disappointed by "real" Japanese food...even from the Yatai of my local Fukuoka (which is pretty darn good, as far as I'm concerned!) Let alone from places like rural Tohoku (the village a friend resided in had a specialty of whole-salamander tempura...bluegh).
The act of editing existing footage to mask reality with non-reality is just that—the action of making something real less real. It can be used for filmmaking (and obviously often is), but it can be used for anything else too.
The issue is how easily these tools can (and will) enable the worst faith actors and actions. It's not controversial (or shocking) to think the current situation for deep-fakes or deceptive edits is historically awful. It's equally reasonable to think these tools are going to do less good for VFX houses in Hollywood, and more evil in authoritarian regimes or chaotic social media networks. You're right that the Overton window has moved—but we ought to blame a White House that disseminates deepfakes, not commenters on HackerNews.
Tools aren't just tools, nothing exists in a vacuum. A plane is a useful means of transportation, but that doesn't mean everyone should be rushing into the cockpit. It's pretty plain to me how a tool that streamlines doctoring footage to such a useful (and deceptive) degree is just a recipe for disaster. Considering the benefit to society is...slightly eased CGI work (?), I'll easily label this a net-negative for us all.
As someone who lives in Kyushu, this is one of the rare times I can contribute something!!
The JR Kyushu company is an interesting one. I feel they tend to operate very different than the other JR companies in Japan. One of those differences is the staggering amount of novelty/theme trains they have. Kyushu historically was a place for the wealthy and powerful (residing often in Tokyo or Osaka) to vacation, so I suppose it makes some sort of sense. But it is very charming to see them all today.
Even their regular trains are quite odd. I take the Sonic train often from Fukuoka to Beppu—and depending on which model you get, its either a retro 70s interior, adorned with wood grain paneling, dark green hues, and a vibe so thick you can practically smell the cigarette smoke coming off the thing...or the later model which feels forever trapped in some late 90s Y2K 'space age new millennium aesthetic' that is just plain awesome.
The more laid-back Kyushu vibe also enhances the whole thing. If you take a late night express train, you'll often find groups of salarymen hanging in the areas between cars, drinking beers and chatting as if they were at the bar after work. It's a real nice thing.
A few other fun facts:
- JR Kyushu wasn't profitable (considering the original JNR split in the 80s) until they got into the real estate game (accounting for like 60% of their operations today). They actually own the Seattle Best Coffee franchise here in Japan, which I think went defunct in America some time ago.
- The top of JR Kyushu's flagship station (Hakata) has a Shinto shrine (dedicated to the rail) and a wonderful garden atop it.
- They also operated a ferry service to Korea (as it is rather close to Fukuoka) up until 2024—when (covered up) leakage problems on the ferry caused a national controversy.
- They are responsible for the bizarre Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen (bullet train) line, which is a poorly thought out, half finished project that currently takes you from Nagasaki to...a small hot spring town that's barely out of Nagasaki.