Perhaps that is to do with the meaning we ascribe the images it generates, rather than anything about the images themselves?
For example, if your dog just died then you don't care about who assembled the pixels to make a loving memorial poster, you just care that that group of pixels means a lot to you. It can have soul if you give it soul and meaning, in my opinion.
Imo it's similar to how artists often find a lot more meaning in their own artwork than other people do- dedicating time to produce something lets you put some of your own soul into it, even if that is only 30 minutes to generate then touch up.
Perhaps that is to do with the meaning we ascribe the images it generates, rather than anything about the images themselves?
For example, if your dog just died then you don't care about who assembled the pixels to make a loving memorial poster, you just care that that group of pixels means a lot to you. It can have soul if you give it soul and meaning, in my opinion.
Imo it's similar to how artists often find a lot more meaning in their own artwork than other people do- dedicating time to produce something lets you put some of your own soul into it, even if that is only 30 minutes to generate then touch up.