A German artist has turned down an award from a renowned international photography competition after disclosing that his entry was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Boris Eldagsen, based in Berlin, was declared the winner in the creative open category at this year's Sony World Photography Awards with his piece titled "Pseudomnesia: The Electrician."
The haunting black-and-white photograph features two women of different ages, with the older woman seemingly holding onto the younger one from behind. The competition organizers acknowledged some AI involvement in the creation of the image but noted that there were intentional efforts to mislead them.
Eldagsen expressed his hope that his actions would spark a discussion on the topic and lead to separate contests for AI-generated images. On his website, he described himself as a "cheeky monkey" aiming to initiate a conversation about AI-generated imagery.
He thanked the organizers for choosing his image, marking a historic moment as the first AI-generated image to win in such a prestigious photography competition. Eldagsen questioned how many people suspected the image was AI-generated, suggesting something felt off about it.
He argued that AI images and traditional photography should not compete in the same category, as they are fundamentally different. Consequently, he declined the award, stating that AI is not photography.
Eldagsen applied to the competition to test whether they were ready for AI images, concluding they were not. He told CNN that the photographic community was caught off guard by the ability to create images resembling photography without the necessary skills and expertise.
He emphasized that his intention was not to cause trouble but to provoke an important discussion. Eldagsen likened his actions to a hacker testing a system for vulnerabilities, not for exploitation.
In further statements, he mentioned informing the organizers about the AI involvement. The competition saw a record number of entries this year, with over 415,000 images submitted, and more than 180,000 qualifying for the professional categories. Finalists and shortlisted photographers came from over 30 countries, 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 during their discussions before announcing him as a winner on March 14. The creative category welcomes various experimental approaches, including digital practices, and they believed Eldagsen's entry met the criteria.
However, after Eldagsen declined the award, the organization suspended their activities with him and removed him from the competition. They stated that his deliberate attempts to mislead them invalidated the warranties he provided, making further dialogue impossible.
The organizers acknowledged the significance of the topic and its influence on contemporary image-making. While AI practices have relevance in artistic contexts, the awards will continue to celebrate the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium.
The AI-generated image "Pseudomnesia: The Electrician" by Boris Eldagsen was submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 and won first prize in the creative open category.