Allright, so I finally was able to hear this podcast in its entirety. Easily one of the best opinion pieces about this highly polemic subject I've come across.
Maybe what this whole AI thing makes you think is: What kind of artist are you? Since I can only speak on my behalf, I like to think I am someone beyond being a one-trick pony; meaning illustration of the kind that pops up on AI engines isn't my only jam (in fact, there are many styles showing up on AI art that I couldn't possibly master in my lifetime)... I also have a knack for writing, character design, and even front end web development (but I already did that for twenty years, I'd rather do something else now). Adaptation and diversity in skills are the key words here. With AI, one-trick ponies won't be able to stick around for long.
I like the concept of AI as an aide to jumpstart or accelerate work processes. For instance, I have been recently using Sudowrite and OpenAI to brainstorm world building, characters and plots for a graphic novel of mine in the works. These things won't (and can't) automagically write me a bestseller on their own — it's still up to the author to pick, polish and curate whatever output AI brings to the table. In fact, about 95% of the text these tools have generated for me is rubbish — but there's a 5% that has served me to think about plot twists and turns I hadn't previously considered.
Still, the "AI is taking our jobs" feeling doesn't completely go away. Specially when your immediate environment is filled with cheapskate clients who are likely drooling at the fact that they now can get custom gallery-worthy artwork for pennies on the dollar, so why pay you for it instead. But the same maxim applies, before and after AI: Often, these are the kind of clients you'd rather not have - the very low hanging fruit kind. Taking hold of your diverse traits and aiming high at different market avenues sounds more like it.
Just my two cents..