A German photographer has declined a major award after admitting his winning image was created using artificial intelligence (AI).
Boris Eldagsen scooped a gong at the Sony World Photography Awards - images from which are currently being exhibited at Somerset House in London - for his artwork ‘Pseudomnesia/The Electrician’.
But in a statement released on his website he has admitted his image was created using AI, but that he had entered “as a cheeky monkey” it to see if competitions “are prepared” for such entries, and to spark debate.
His winning black-and-white image appears to show an older woman embracing a younger woman, as they both look solemn.
Mr Eldagsen wrote on his website: “Thank you for selecting my image and making this a historic moment, as it is the first AI generated image to win in a prestigous international photography competition.
“ How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated?
“AI images and photography should not compete with eachother in an award like this. They are different entities. AI is not photography. Therefore I will not accept the award.
“I applied as a cheeky monkey, to find out, if the comeptitions are prepared for AI images to enter. They are not.”
He said “an open discussion” is needed in the photography world, around what constitutes “photography”.
“Is the umbrella of photography large enough to invite AI images to enter – or would this be a mistake? With my refusal of the award I hope to speed up this debate,” he said.
He went on to suggest his rejected award could be donated to a photography competition based in Odesa, Ukraine.
The Sony World Photography Awards, run by the World Photography Organisation, is described as “the leading competition for photographers and artists working in photography”.
It comprises four competitions - professional, open, student and youth.
Mr Eldagsen won the creative subcategory of the “open” category, where prizes available include $5,000 and top Sony digital imaging equipment.
The World Photography Organisation has said Mr Eldagsen had revealed his use of AI to them before being named winner.
A statement provided to the Guardian said: “In our correspondence, he explained how following ‘two decades of photography, my artistic focus has shifted more to exploring creative possibilities of AI generators’ and further emphasising the image heavily relies on his ‘wealth of photographic knowledge’. As per the rules of the competition, the photographers provide the warranties of their entry.
“The creative category of the open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image making from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices. As such, following our correspondence with Boris and the warranties he provided, we felt that his entry fulfilled the criteria for this category, and we were supportive of his participation.
“Additionally, we were looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris’ wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for our website.
“As he has now decided to decline his award we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition. Given his actions and subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts at misleading us, and therefore invalidating the warranties he provided, we no longer feel we are able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him.
“We recognise the importance of this subject and its impact on image-making today. We look forward to further exploring this topic via our various channels and programmes and welcome the conversation around it. While elements of AI practices are relevant in artistic contexts of image-making, the awards always have been and will continue to be a platform for championing the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium.”
Mr Eldagsen’s stunt comes as debate over AI and its place in the world rumbles on.
The prevalence of AI has increased hugely in recent years, with systems such as chatbot ChatGPT quickly becoming part of everyday life.
Tech chiefs including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn signed an open letter demanding all labs stop training AI systems for at least six months.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2023 exhibition opened at Somerset House on April 14 and is running until May 1. It features more than 200 prints and hundreds of images from winning and shortlisted photographers.
