I do not consider the use of AI to be unethical or a sign of a lack of imagination. I believe that if you already have a vision of how something should look and what it should convey, you can use AI tools to give it shape—without simply settling for the first thing it generates—and then build upon that foundation with colors and forms to achieve the desired effect. It is no different from using a wooden mannequin or real-life models as a reference.
Ironically, the people who demonize AI often lack the imagination to harness it effectively; they can only envision a scenario where the AI controls the user. Sadly, much like traditional designers who struggled with the advent of Photoshop and Illustrator, they will ultimately be left behind for failing to adapt to progress.