Calling all designer to share their view on AI development and the future of design

Between generative image tools, rapid AI wireframing, and automated design systems, the craft is moving faster than most of us expected. On one hand, AI is taking over the tedious overhead—speeding up early moodboards, boilerplate layout drafts, and production assets. On the other, it feels like the barrier to entry is shifting, forcing us to redefine what "value" looks like when polished visuals can be generated with a prompt. I’m curious how everyone here is actually navigating this in their day-to-day work and where you see the industry heading. A few questions to kick off the thread: 1. Workflow vs. Reality: Are you using AI tools in your actual day-to-day production, or does the output still require too much cleanup to be worth the headache? 2. The Shift in Value: If execution is getting commoditized, what skills are becoming more critical for designers to survive and thrive (e.g., brand strategy, taste/curation, design engineering, system-level thinking)? 3. Clients & Leadership: How are you handling client/stakeholder expectations now that non-designers think "AI can just do it in 5 minutes"? 4. Future of the Craft: Do you feel optimistic about AI as an ultimate co-pilot, or concerned about a race to the bottom in output quality? Drop your discipline (Graphic, Brand, UI/UX, Product, 3D, etc.) and your honest take below. No hot-takes or hype necessary, just real experience from the trenches.