Like you said earlier, AI is another tool in the plethora of digital production of music. There is no reason to use it. You can continue to use the tools your used to. If your goal is to make money, and promote your music commercially then maybe some form of AI assistance might be used. I have never seriously produced any AI music. It has all been experimental. I am retired now from music making, so it is really a non-issue.
No reason to feel deflated, your music stands in good stead on its own. To become successful, meaning getting lots of plays, might happen but in my experience, the thousands of digital music creators and even good music without AI, do no get enough views to become popular. So I forgot making music to be popular and did my best with what I had and that is good enough.
