Generative AI Art's Polyester Fate: Bubble or Future?

This article uses the rise and fall of polyester as a metaphor to explore the future of generative AI art. Just as polyester briefly dominated the textile market in the mid-20th century before being relegated to cheap and tacky status, generative AI art faces a similar fate. While AI lowers the barrier to art creation, its proliferation leads to aesthetic fatigue and devaluation, even being used for disinformation. The author argues that while AI art may dominate the market in the short term, the human desire for genuine emotion and unique artistic expression will not disappear, ultimately driving a revival of truly valuable human-made art.