AI-Generated Image Submits to Contest for a Cause and Takes Home the Prize

In March 2023, the Sony World Photographer Awards revealed its winners, which included German artist Boris Eldagsen for his submission, titled Electricia. According to Sony’s press release, the photo was a black-and-white portrait of two women from different generations, reminiscent of 1940s family portraits. However, Eldagsen revealed in a recent blog post that the photograph was actually generated using artificial intelligence (AI) software. He explained that he entered the competition as a “cheeky monkey” to provoke discussion about the role of AI-generated images in the photography world.

Eldagsen refused to accept the prestigious photography award and declined attending the ceremony, stating that “AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this.” He went on to express that the photo world needs an open discussion about what should be considered photography and what should not. He questioned if the umbrella of photography is large enough to include AI images, or if it would be a mistake to do so.

By rejecting the award, Eldagsen hopes to initiate a debate about the role of AI-generated images in photography. The image has been removed from the Sony World Photographer Awards website, and Eldagsen anticipates an official statement from the organization.