German artist rejects Photography Award after he disclosed image was manipulated with AI

German artist rejects Photography Award after he disclosed image was manipulated with AI
German artist Boris Eldagsen has rejected his winning prize from the Sony World Photography Award after he revealed that his winning entry, ‘Pseudomnesia: The Electrician” was created using artificial intelligence (AI).

Eldagsen,53, said in a statement that he used the picture to test the competition and to create a conversation about AI-generated images and the future of photography.

The Berlin-based artist acknowledged that he had been a “cheeky monkey” and thanked the judges for selecting his image while questioning if any of them knew it was AI-generated.

He went on to argue that AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this, as they are different entities.

“Thank you for selecting my image and making this a historic moment, as it is the first AI-generated image to win in a prestigious (sic) international PHOTOGRAPHY competition. How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn’t feel right, does it?” the statement on his website said

However, the organisers of the award claim that he misled them about the extent of AI used in the creation of the image.

“The creative category of the open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image making from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices,” organizers told CNN.

They added: “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.”

AI’s use in every aspect of our lives has become rampant in recent times from songs and essay writing to driverless cars, and chatbox therapists even to the development of medicine which has become a topical issue.

Now its appropriateness and utility regarding photography, especially deep fakes, has come into focus.

A World Photography Organisation spokesperson said that they were looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Eldagsen’s wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for their website.

“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,” it said

They recognised the importance of AI and its impact on image-making today but stressed 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.

Source: 3news.com