As generative AI technologies evolve, the boundaries of artistic creation are being renegotiated. Much like photography once challenged the “aura” of traditional artworks, AI-generated images spark new debates about authorship, authenticity, and artistic identity. This study examines how visual AI art is discussed on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Reddit. Drawing on narrative theory by Catherine Riessman and Alexa Robertson, Walter Benjamin’s concept of aura and Stig Hjarvard’s mediatization theory, the analysis explores how users frame AI as both a creative tool and a threat. Findings show that narratives often alternate between enthusiasm for democratized creativity and concern about authorship, control, and artistic legitimacy. While some embrace AI’s potential, others emphasize its reliance on ethically questionable data and its erosion of human agency and artistic value. The study concludes that generative AI intensifies cultural debates over what constitutes art and who is recognized as an artist, mirroring broader tensions in today’s mediatized digital culture.