I think there's a condition though. That if they learn generative AI tools then they won't be obsolete. If op was just of the view that there's nothing special about generative AI, then the post would read very different.
I think they think that generative AI might help give his artist friends a competitive edge against other artists, which would help make them more hirable, hence assuaging their concerns of obsolescence. My guess would be OP thinks generative AI won't make artists obsolete, but might make being an artist more competitive. But I reckon we're just speculating on their internal state.