So I read the discussion about AI art and then went about my day. Just now in my household an add caught my attention (husband keeps using YouTube on the Roku TV without AdBlock) and it was Alphabet trying to show off AI tools as being this wholesome thing, allowing a little girl to turn a mundane photo into a dragon. It just seemed dystopian to me, even though I don't tend to get hysterical about things. Making shitty drawings and art as a little kid in order to realize my imagination was a huge part of my, our, growing up. Took way too much effort, was all terribly done when I happen upon things stored in shoeboxes, and yet, was not a waste of time. Eye-hand motor skills, observation, imagination stretching. But now, why bother when you can make perfect images in seconds? Yawn, right?
So it doesn't involve physical objects but it just seems so empty, as has been stated. I don't even have a problem with using AI for assistance, I just think it's a problem for beings like us, who are still flesh and bone primates, to completely avoid all challenges and struggles.
Anyway...that's just my thoughts. My kids have access to all the physical art supplies they want and I cherish every weird ass thing they make.