[The Editors' Verdict] AI Creations Must Be Judged by Different Standards

"I wanted to test the photo exhibition and spark a discussion about the future of photography."

Boris Eldagsen, a 52-year-old established German photographer, made this statement after refusing the Creative category award at the ‘2023 Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA)’ held until the 16th. The reason he declined the award was that the image he submitted was not a photo he took himself but an image created by artificial intelligence (AI). He intended to test whether the SWPA judging panel could distinguish between photographs and AI-generated images, and as a result, the SWPA judges failed the test.

As AI technology advances rapidly, confusion and controversy are growing. The SWPA case is a clear example showing that AI is already causing significant confusion in the realm of art. Some voices even express concerns that AI might bring destruction beyond merely replacing art. If Eldagsen had concealed the truth, the damage would have fallen on other photographers. Furthermore, it would have led to debates not only within the photography art community but also about the authenticity and existential value of art itself.

Mid-career German photographer Boris Eldakjen submitted the AI image "The Electrician" to the Creative category of the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA). [Captured from the artist's homepage]

Eldagsen’s stirring of debate about the value and authenticity of art recalls the case of French novelist Romain Gary (1914?1980), who wrote works such as ‘Life Before Us’ and ‘Birds Go to Peru to Die.’ In 1945, Romain Gary won the prestigious Prix Goncourt, France’s highest literary honor, for his novel ‘Roots of Heaven.’ However, his later works faced criticism from literary critics. In 1975, under the pseudonym ?mile Ajar, he published ‘Life Before Us,’ and that same year, he was again awarded the Prix Goncourt. The prize rules forbid winning twice, but the French literary community was unaware that Romain Gary and ?mile Ajar were the same person. Subsequently, Gary continued to publish novels under both his real name and the pseudonym. While Gary’s works were criticized, Ajar’s books received acclaim. In 1980, Gary ended his own life and revealed in his suicide note that he was ?mile Ajar, shocking the French literary world.

Romain Gary’s case illustrates how difficult it is for an artist to prove their own value. Eldagsen’s ‘one shot’ at SWPA likely stemmed from concerns that AI might damage the value of art.

In an interview with the British daily The Guardian, Eldagsen actually argued that AI can be helpful if used well in creative work. He said, "I do not see AI as a threat to human creativity," and rather claimed that AI has freed him from past material and financial constraints. At the same time, Eldagsen emphasized that photographic work created by light and AI-generated images created by computers are clearly different. He insisted that traditional photographic work and AI-generated images must be distinctly separated. Just as a singer’s live performance and the live album recorded and released from that performance are valued differently, artworks created by humans and creations expressed through new AI technology should be judged with different values. This approach would reduce confusion caused by AI and promote coexistence between art and AI.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.