My opinion is that the real "soul" of art starts with the individual that has an idea, they want to express that idea with whatever tools they have at their disposal, AI is a tool, and it is enabling many imaginations to share their "art" to the world. Everything else is pompous noise.
Agree entirely.
Even though, specifically to these, the intention was testing it out and practicing prompts to have more of a grip on the outcomes. But what's the difference between that and an artists mixing oil paints together to get the intended color tone he/she is after? Or a person improving their technical drawing skill by practicing?
I'm curious as to if the statement should have been "you can't draw, bud".
Which isnt the topic or claim here.
If one of the images was signed by Akira Toriyama or Jim Lee, I wonder if it would then be considered art?