That's a very good point about seeing progress shots. They either have them or they don't. And it solves the issue once and for all. That's a good tip to know.
As for the direction all of this is heading, it's a new and emerging technology, just as digital photography once was. Things will get shaken up, but I think there will always be a role for dedicated and talented humans. Just have to wait and see how that all pans out.
Yes I'm no Luddite lol.
But I do believe there will come a day when no one will work anymore, because all jobs will be done by robots or AI or both. Job being defined as something someone gets paid to do. Humans will still be doing things, it's just that no one will be paid for work anymore.
I don't see it as a disaster, it could even be a good thing. :)
Having work done by robots and AI is probably something that is inevitable, but I get what you're saying about the art side of things. The more that can stay in human hands the better.