Just because a new technology is imperfect today, does not always mean it will remain so.
Every. Single. Generation… of typesetting technology had its naysayers and critics who said it was inferior and would never replace the previous generation.
Calligraphy
Hand-set metal foundry type
Linotype, Monotype and others
Phototypesetting
“Desktop publishing”
I feel similarly about AI and type design. At the very least it is likely to improve to the point where, on a project led by a senior designer, many type design & font production tasks one would have farmed out to more junior associates… will be possible to replace with computers.
It may be a month or a year or several years away.
Yes, this can have negative consequences. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
@tphinney
The question this begs is what do the "more junior associates" now do, if indeed they still have jobs? How do they learn and gain the experience to become more senior?
I guess it could reach the point where subscriptions to generative technology become more expensive than hiring junior staff, but my feeling is that there's a broader philosophical question to be answered about what we value and what are we prepared to sacrifice to uphold such principles.