If you've spent some time with AI already you've probably realised that it takes some level of domain-specific information to get AI to produce a useful output. For example, people who are already artistic are better at getting artistically interesting images out of an AI. The idea and the guidance have value and are essential to the outcome. Prompt engineering is a very real skill.

Now this case is about an autonomous tool, which by definition doesn't include a human's guidance. I agree that the waters here are definitely murkier. If however, you put a blanket over all AI-assisted works and say that the author/engineer doesn't deserve credit, or protection, then I think you're off the mark.