Photography award winner turns down prize after admitting image was made with AI

The highly anticipated 2023 Sony World Photography Awards have recently come to a close, with winners being honored for their outstanding contributions to the world of photography. However, one of the top winners has shocked the public by turning down his prize after admitting that his image was created with the help of artificial intelligence. This revelation has sparked a heated debate about the role of technology in modern-day art, raising questions about what it means to be a “photographer”, and whether or not AI-generated images should be considered eligible for such prestigious awards. In this article, we’ll look at the controversy surrounding this unexpected turn of events and explore the broader implications of AI’s growing presence in the artistic world.


German artist Boris Eldagsen recently won a Sony World Photography Award in the creative open category for his piece titled Pseudomnesia: The Electrician. However, he decided to turn down the award after revealing that the image he submitted was actually created using artificial intelligence (AI). In a statement on his website, Eldagsen stated that he entered the competition as a “cheeky monkey” to test whether competitions are prepared for AI-generated images to enter. He concluded that they are not.

Eldagsen’s statement also asked readers how many of them suspected that the image was AI-generated. He pointed out that AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this since they are different entities. He added, “Therefore I will not accept the award.”

In the statement, Eldagsen explained that he informed the organisers of the competition, Creo, that his image was created using AI after they told him that he had won. He claimed that they replied by telling him that he could keep the award. He published a detailed account of the conversations he had with Creo, where he repeatedly asked why they initially failed to reveal that his image had been made using AI.

The World Photography Organisation, which oversees the Sony World Photography Award, stated that Eldagsen had made the admission about how his image was made before he was announced as the winner of the contest. They stated that he emphasised the picture in question “relies on his ‘wealth of photographic knowledge'” and that they were satisfied he had fulfilled the entry criteria.

However, they also said relations are now strained between the two parties. They added, “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.”

They stated that they no longer feel they are able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with Eldagsen due to his actions and subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts at misleading them, and therefore invalidating the warranties he provided. They recognise the importance of this topic and its impact on image-making today and welcome the conversation around it.

AI has developed rapidly in recent months, with the introduction of the likes of ChatGPT, a language model that can build code or write stories at the click of a button, and software that can drive cars, write university essays or generate images.

Eldagsen’s decision to turn down the award has sparked a conversation about whether AI-generated artwork should be allowed to compete in traditional art competitions. While some argue that AI-generated artwork is different from traditional art, others argue that the technology used to create the artwork is not what matters – it’s the final product that should be judged. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that AI-generated artwork will continue to become more prevalent in the art world, and it will be interesting to see how competitions adapt to this new form of creativity.


The controversy surrounding the 2023 Sony World Photography Award winner’s decision to turn down their top prize is a stark reminder of the increasingly complex relationship between technology and art. While some argue that AI-enhanced images represent the future of photography, others believe that true creative expression can only come from human hands and minds. Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, it’s clear that this decision will have a lasting impact on the art world and the way we think about photography in the years to come. As we continue to grapple with the implications of rapidly advancing technology, we can only hope that our appreciation of art and its essential humanity will remain true and unshaken.