In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly advanced, it should come as no surprise that machines are capable of producing award-winning works of art. This was recently evidenced by an amazing photo that was showcased in the Sony World Photography Awards. However, what shocked the world wasn’t just the photo’s beauty, but the fact that it was created entirely by AI. As we approach an era where machines are increasingly performing tasks that were once the sole domain of humans, questions arise around what creativity means and just how far technology can take us.
German artist Boris Eldagsen has refused to accept his prize for the creative open category of the Sony World Photography Award after it was revealed that his entry, entitled Pseudomnesia: The Electrician, was created using AI. Eldagsen used the picture to test the competition and to spark a discussion about the future of photography. He released a statement on his website in which he admitted to being a “cheeky monkey” and thanked the judges for “making this a historic moment”. Although the World Photography Organisation, the photography strand of art events organisers Creo, confirmed that the artist had discussed his use of AI in the image during their communications prior to announcing the winner, Eldagsen criticised the award organisers, stating that AI and photography are different entities and should not compete with each other.
AI is increasingly being used in song and essay writing, driverless cars, chatbot therapists and medicine. It is now also being debated in relation to photography, particularly deepfakes. Although the World Photography Organisation had accepted Eldagsen’s entry, the subsequent revelation that it had been produced synthetically led the organisation to remove him from the competition.
The use of AI in artistic contests has increasingly caused controversy. Last year, for example, an AI-generated image won a US state art competition. Although some artists and photographers regard AI as simply another tool, others believe that it unfairly exploits the works of hundreds of thousands of human creators on which it is trained. Additionally, key issues related to who owns the copyright for an AI image remain unclear, while the technology has generated ethical and legal questions across numerous domains.
Eldagsen highlighted these issues in his statement, which he wished to use as a springboard for debate. Photographer and blogger Feroz Khan praised Eldagsen for wanting to draw attention to this issue and suggested that there should be separate categories established for AI and non-AI-generated images. An exhibition of the winners and shortlisted images from this year’s Sony World Photography Awards is currently taking place at Somerset House in London until 1 May 2023.
In conclusion, the world of photography is expanding and transforming with the emergence of artificial intelligence. While some may view AI-generated photos as a threat to traditional photography, it is important to recognize the potential they hold in pushing creative boundaries and challenging the status quo. The recent revelation that an award-winning photo was created by AI serves as a reminder that technology has the power to transform and enhance our experiences in unexpected ways. As we continue to explore the capabilities of AI in the art world, we can look forward to an exciting and innovative future.
