A German artist has turned down a prize from a renowned international photography competition after disclosing that his entry was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Boris Eldagsen, based in Berlin, was awarded the top spot in the creative open category at the Sony World Photography Awards with his piece titled "Pseudomnesia: The Electrician." The haunting black-and-white photo depicts two women of different ages, with the older woman seemingly clinging to the younger one from behind.
The competition organizers acknowledged some AI involvement in the submission but noted that there were intentional efforts to deceive them. Eldagsen expressed his hope that his actions would spark a discussion on the matter and lead to separate contests for AI-generated works.
In a statement on his website, Eldagsen described himself as a "cheeky monkey" aiming to initiate a dialogue about AI-generated images. He thanked the judges for selecting his work and marking a historic moment as the first AI-created image to win such a prestigious photography competition. He questioned how many suspected the image was AI-generated, suggesting something felt off about it.
Eldagsen argued that AI images and traditional photography should not compete in the same category, as they are fundamentally different. He refused to accept the award, stating that he entered the competition to test whether it was ready for AI images, which he found it was not.
Speaking to CNN, Eldagsen explained that the photographic community was caught off guard by the ability to create images resembling photography without the need for traditional skills. He noted that many photographers feel threatened and fear job losses due to AI advancements.
Eldagsen clarified that his intention was not to cause trouble but to highlight an important issue. He likened his actions to a hacker testing a system for vulnerabilities rather than exploiting them. He also informed the organizers about the AI involvement in his work.
The competition saw a record number of entries in 2023, with over 415,000 submissions, more than 180,000 of which were eligible for professional categories. Photographers from over 30 countries participated, capturing scenes from diverse locations like an abandoned cement factory in China and a fish market in Somalia.
The World Photography Organisation, which oversees the competition, stated that Eldagsen had confirmed the AI "co-creation" of his image before being announced as a category winner. They explained that the creative category welcomes various experimental approaches, and Eldagsen's entry met the criteria. However, following his decision to decline the award and his admission of misleading them, they have ceased their activities with him.
The organizers emphasized the importance of discussing AI's impact on image-making while maintaining the awards as a platform for celebrating the skill and excellence of photographers and artists. Eldagsen's AI-generated image, "Pseudomnesia: The Electrician," had initially won first prize in the creative open category at the Sony World Photography Awards 2023.