The Visual Volume Trap: Why AI Image Output Only Pays Off With a Style Moat

AI image tools shift the agency constraint from production hours to differentiation, so the margin gain is real but temporary unless the output is anchored to a proprietary style system. Agencies that treat generation as a commodity will hand clients volume they could buy anywhere; those that pair generation with brand-locked styles, licensing clarity, and measurable creative testing convert speed into retainer pricing power.