Overcome "Cringe" in Photography?

I recently came across one of the many videos by Tony Northrup titled "Photography just changed forever. Here is why." I strongly dislike this. Influencers use that style to lure you into the video without saying much about the content. To me, it is usually a valid reason to shy away. But, okay, I started it, and it has actually a point.

The claim is that what we called good photography now has become a "cringe". I am not sure what this word actually means. But it is not a good thing. His argument was that AI can now do those technically perfect pictures with the ease of inputting a text line. And, moreover, we have seen enough of them anyway. The viewer does no longer trust that polished reality. It feels strange and unconnected to us. For Tony, this explains the resort to analogue photography or simple cameras as we see it today.

I have several remarks. First of all, photography has always been a multi-facette art form. There was always a place for abstract, blurry or otherwise imperfect pictures. Secondly, AI is able to produce pictures with any look. You can add any intended style for its output. AI is mimicking us and learns from human behavior to get human results. The distinction between human and AI photography based on tools are style is meaningless.

A good point, however, is that the new generation may finally want pictures about themselves and from themselves, not the ever repeating polished ones they are presented in social media or photography journals. They would not need to fall back to analogue technology for this. But maybe that is what makes results more real and substantial. So, why not.

For me, the take-away is that I should keep doing what I ever did, taking pictures for my memories and as I see the world. I process them because they never look like I wanted them to look. This excludes the analogue process for me. Moreover, we should really no longer use more chemical stuff than absolutely needed. Otherwise, my photography is mine. If anybody tells me not to do this or that, I listen, think it over, and often reject the advice. If people cringe about my pictures, then be it.