I get why it feels bleak—low-effort AI output flooding workflows isn’t fun to deal with. But the dynamic isn’t new. It only feels unprecedented because we’re living through it. Think back: the loom, the printing press, the typewriter, the calculator.

When Gutenberg’s press arrived, monks likely thought: “Who would want uniform, soulless copies of the Bible when I can hand-craft one with perfect penmanship and illustrations? I’ve spent my life mastering this craft.”

But most people didn’t care. They wanted access and speed. The same trade-off shows up with mass-market books, IKEA furniture, Amazon basics. A small group still prizes the artisanal version, but the majority just wants something that works.

I'm not sure if it's so much that most people don't care, but that hand crafted items are more expensive. As evidence of popular interest, "craftwashing"[1] mass produced goods with terms like "artisanal", and "small-batch" can be an effective marketing strategy. Using the example of a bible, a 1611 King James facsimile still commands a hefty premium[2] over a regular print. Or for paintings, who would prefer a print over an original?

There's also the "Cottagecore" aesthetic that was popular a few years ago, which is conceptually similar to the Arts and Crafts movement or the earlier Luddites.

[1]https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/craftwashing-happ...

[2]https://www.thekjvstore.com/1611-king-james-bible-regular-fa...

Did you just basically coin “artisanal code”?