Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It is complex, certainly, but there are areas of clear infringement.

When you get my book from legitimate means (bookstore, library, etc.), you're not infringing on my copyright. You're not stealing from me--you're helping me earn money as an artist. If you are then influenced by me, fine, there's nothing wrong with that. You're using your own brain to do the work of learning how to hone your craft. You're not taking shortcuts.

These programs steal from artists. No one asked to use our work for instruction. No one is paying us for use of our work. And these companies are the ones profiting--not the artists. And for what? So people can have computers do the work of creativity for them?

Sorry, I just do not stand for any technology that steals and hurts artists.