I agree with your point and would add that it's been this way for decades prior to AI. Many are focusing on the fact that AI is recently making it easier, cheaper and faster to do hard-to-detect, high-fidelity photo/video manipulation. However, another equally important change from AI is widespread awareness that such manipulation is not only possible but relatively easy.
Previously, such manipulation was possible via manual methods requiring time and unique skill which limited it to highly motivated, organized adversaries and it was much more useful because most people weren't aware it could be done. IMHO, all the AI examples we're now seeing bemoaned in the media as signs of future manipulation are, in fact, rapidly diminishing the effective value of such deception.
Previously, such manipulation was possible via manual methods requiring time and unique skill which limited it to highly motivated, organized adversaries and it was much more useful because most people weren't aware it could be done. IMHO, all the AI examples we're now seeing bemoaned in the media as signs of future manipulation are, in fact, rapidly diminishing the effective value of such deception.