I don’t think that is a widely accepted holistic definition of malware. But even if, AC is not waisting resources. It’s taking the resources it needs to perform its job.

Anticheat isn’t malware. Malware has adverse effects on your system.

AC uses some techniques that some forms of malware also use (but far from all)

So what?

What constitutes an artist?

If it’s just the execution then someone writing a screenplay isn’t an artist because they are Not filming and acting.

Double that for animated series. No one is an artist here because a lot of stuff is already automatically generated.

You’re not an artist because you can draw what someone else tells you. Maybe a craftsman at best.

AI is a tool. A pencil also doesn’t know what it made.

That doesn’t take anything away from the art.

Art doesn’t need a gatekeeper

I’d say no

If people are working on 200 things at once it’s your job to provide them with clear cut tasks, priorities, and deadlines.

Nothing was stolen.

Drawing inspiration from someone else by looking at their work has been around for centuries.

Imagine if the Renaissance couldn’t happen because artists didn’t want their style stolen.