Junior Compositor/Cleanup in Indie: Impact of AI-assisted Tools?

Hey everyone,

I'm Noah Sterling, a motion graphics artist who occasionally dips into more traditional VFX for smaller projects. Lately, I've been noticing a huge shift with tools like RunwayML and Resolve's Magic Mask really upping their game. On a recent indie short I helped out with, we used Magic Mask extensively to isolate actors shot on a KOMODO, saving us a ton of roto time. The director even experimented briefly with Runway for some background plate extensions.

It got me thinking: for young artists just starting out, especially in the indie world where budgets are tight and people wear many hats, how has the necessary skill set for a junior compositor or cleanup artist changed? Are traditional frame-by-frame roto and meticulous wire removal skills still as high-priority, or is the emphasis now shifting more towards knowing which AI tool to use and how to effectively guide it? I’m genuinely curious about what the community is seeing and what advice you'd give to someone looking to break in now.