I take your point this feels different and may in the longterm need a new definition. I think what feels wrong to us is how easy it is to create these images and how good some of them turn out. However, the equation of 'work', i.e. it taking a longtime or a specific talent, whatever, has been ingrained in us as worthwhile.

Unfortunately, in the art world there have been plenty of well known artists (even some masters) who made extensive use of assistants and in some cases never even touched a canvas. Or more to the point were incapable of actually producing the final product. However, they are still the artist of note for the piece as it was their 'idea' or they created the style, etc. So clearly its not as simple as 'it should be hard' or 'work' that makes someone an artist and their work of worth. See Warhol and many pop artists for pieces of extreme value, but of relative ease to produce. Again I fall back to the prompt being the 'idea' and the truly artistic thing, even if stable diffusion or whatever is doing the work. (https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1611/life-in-a-renaissa...)