"But few are now impressed by a computer's chess play."
This is quite wrong - computer chess has 100% come up with interesting ideas, ones that GMs now use. I often think of the human/AI chess interaction as a model for broader AI use, where humans use very sophisticated tools to become better at what they're doing.
how often do news outlets report on ai chess advances anymore?
I haven't heard a damn thing about AI chess in the news since IBM shoved deep blue down everyones' throats, presumably grandmaster chess players are a fairly minor group of people w.r.t. society at large.
Using an engine when you're trying to play vs humans is still considered cheating though. I think engines are why we have "Super GM's" like Magnus and Hikaru though.
I would imagine that all new ideas in chess (particularly openings) come from analyzing positions deeply with the computer. It is an indespensible tool at the highest levels.
This is quite wrong - computer chess has 100% come up with interesting ideas, ones that GMs now use. I often think of the human/AI chess interaction as a model for broader AI use, where humans use very sophisticated tools to become better at what they're doing.