Fuck AI

Also, imagine if the situation were reversed and an AI drawing was entered instead to a drawing contest. People would be livid, instead of celebrating breaking the rules.

Except that already happened, and people were livid. Your correct assessment of such a scenario says a lot more than your half hearted defences for AI art.

The only people I've ever heard say AI is good for "references" are people who aren't artists.

Because AI makes for LOUSY references. (Unless your art style specifically involves clothing pieces melding into each other without rhyme or reasons and cthonic horrors for hands and limbs.)

Just because a drawn picture won once means squat

True, a sample of one means nothing, statistically speaking.

AI can be used alongside drawing

Why would I want a function drawing for me if I'm trying to draw myself? In what step of the process would it make sense to use?

for references for instance

AI is notorious for not giving the details someone would pick a reference image for. Linkie

It’s a tool like any other

No they are not "a tool like any other". I do not understand how you could see going from drawing on a piece of paper to drawing much the same way on a screen as equivalent as to an auto complete function operated by typing words on one or two prompt boxes and adjusting a bunch of knobs.

Also, just out of curiosity, do you know how "back propagation" is, in the context of Machine Learning? And "Neuron" and "Learning"?