Is AI a Tool?

I honestly don't really have a good grasp on it. It's almost shocking how quickly AI has become part of the conversation and now sort of part of the challenge or somewhat in the, in the art space. I feel like as an artist, it's morally wrong, but on the other hand, like here we are. And what does it mean as a tool going forward? Where is going to fall? Is it going to be something that is, is, it competes with an illustrator? The answer is yes, at some point for some publishers. Yes.