Eisner Award AI Inclusion Fallout: Submission Withdrawn, New AI Policy to Be Created
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Comic-Con International has responded to the discovery of an Eisner Award nomination that included generative AI work. According to the San Diego Comic Convention organizer, the editor of Stardust the Super Wizard Anthology has withdrawn their submission. The work had been nominated for Best Anthology.
Additionally they say had judges known about the AI content they “would not have voted for its inclusion.”
Here’s their statement in full:
In light of the recent disclosure that Artificial Intelligence was included in a work submitted for Eisner Award consideration, the judges have indicated that had they been aware of this information, they would not have voted for its inclusion. The editor of the anthology in question has also rescinded this submission for inclusion. Therefore, the submission has been removed from the list of nominees and will not appear on the ballot.
It is clear that the ever evolving landscape of technology, as it relates to art, will benefit from further review and discussion. For this reason, San Diego Comic Convention will undertake that effort and will produce a policy that better reflects its long standing efforts in the protection of artists and creators alike.
-Comic-Con International
The news of the generative AI inclusion began with a video by Byron O’Neal, Editor-In-Chief at Comic Book Yeti. This morning he started a petition hoping that it would serve as a “mechanism of collective communication to the committee that generative AI has no place in the Eisners because if nothing changes, I fear not just the future of the awards, but also its legacy, will be tarnished forever.” So far 1,125 individuals have signed the petition.
In response to Comic-Con International statement, Byron tells The Daily Cartoonist that it’s an optimistic first step. He says:
It’s a positive first step. I’m optimistic but a public statement of intent means nothing without changing the submission guidelines for 2027 and beyond to ensure the long term integrity of the awards moving forward. We cannot allow projects created using generative AI to continue to be considered alongside those created by real people. It’s a complex future we are all navigating, and they need time to evaluate and respond appropriately. The community is expectantly watching.
Update: Story now includes response from Byron O’Neal.
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