Back to the Colorado River?

I'm planning to take another raft trip through the Grand Canyon in the spring But would I do better just to stay home at my computer?

Recently I was part of a panel discussion on the future of photography. Inevitably the topic shifted to the rapidly growing use of AI programs to enhance or even create photographic images. More significantly enhanced or even 100% prompt-created images are showing up on social media and even in photography contests.

So should there be any regulation or labelling? The panel was split. The older photographers were of the opinion that there should be a way to differentiate between 'camera and lens' photography, and work that is largely AI created. The younger panel member disagreed, noting that even traditional photography involved altering 'reality' through lenses, darkroom alterations, or more recently, computer-aided editing. He suggested that 'old fashioned' photography may end up as a unique niche (sort of like vinyl records) and may need to be promoted that way.

As a landscape photographer that learned the craft with manual film cameras, I've always favored a light touch with editing. My opinion is that the term 'photography' should be used to refer to images created using a camera and lens, and that images that are significantly altered or created through software (including AI programs) should be labelled as Digital Art. At the end of the day however, it is likely that most people won't know or care where images are from...only whether they like them.

So should I go down the river? Someone at the discussion suggested that the trip might be valuable as an experience. But if the primary goal is Colorado River photography, I might actually do better (and save money) by staying home at my computer screen. Depressing perhaps, but probably accurate.