They've largely avoided compensating for everything they've stolen to build their technology upon; these people know that they will never face consequences for their actions. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
What did they steal? Did anybody thereby lose anything?
Im sure they didnt discover who it was and what they did for free.
AI is being used to replace artists. They are being trained on copies of work by artists without being licensed for that use. So yes, artists are losing out.
The use of copyrighted material is unethical, I agree, but I don't think it follows that we should consider the replacement of work with technology itself unethical.
Sure. That seems like a non sequitur. Maybe some people are making such arguments in relation to AI, but this thread is about a particular unethical practice.