He Refused the World's Biggest Photo Prize Because He Made It With AI

Boris Eldagsen has spent 25 years studying at the world's most prestigious art academies, photography in Mainz, conceptual art in Prague, fine art in India, philosophy at Cologne and Mainz. In April 2023, he won the Sony World Photography Award with an AI-generated image. Then on stage in London, he refused the prize.Today he's a Creative Partner of OpenAI, Runway, Higgsfield, Dreamina, and Hailuo. He advocates for the word "promptography." His message? AI doesn't suffer. AI can rant, but it can't bleed. The difference between human art and AI generation comes down to one thing, mortality.In this episode, Boris breaks down:– Why he refused the world's biggest photography prize (and why Sony's silence forced his hand)– The word "promptography" and why AI images are not photography– His full workflow for the Francis Bacon AI Art Rant (20 steps, 7 tools, 6 weeks)– Why he uses AI to attack AI in his installation "This Is Not Art"– The four levels of how art affects us — and why authenticity is overrated– His honest take on whether AI is unfairly exploiting the work of human creatorsIf you're an artist, photographer, or creative wondering where you fit in the AI revolution, this episode is for you.CHAPTERS[00:00] The refusal that stopped the world[04:00] Why AI is forcing us to define what's human[07:00] How much of "The Electrician" was AI vs 25 years of being a photographer[10:00] Where Boris draws the line between AI generation and art[13:40] Promptography and why the world needed a new word[14:45] Mortality, suffering, and what AI can never have[17:30] The four stages of how art affects us (and why authenticity is a myth)[23:50] Should AI-generated work be labelled?[26:30] When will an AI movie win an Oscar?[34:45] How do you know when an AI artwork is finished?[37:20] Inside the workflow of "This Is Not Art"[51:55] The contradiction, critiquing AI while being a Creative Partner of OpenAI[55:30] Where to start if you want to make AI art[01:02:45] The biggest lesson from 25 years as an artist[01:09:50] What AI should never take from us🔗 Follow Boris:Instagram: /boriseldagsenYouTube: /@boriseldagsenWebsite: https://www.eldagsen.com/🔗 Follow Keira:/realmissai/keira-nesdale-b287899bhttps://www.aiconsultancy.co.nz/🔗 Subscribe for more conversations like this:/@realmissai#ai #artificialintelligence #podcast #aiart #promptography #boriseldagsen #openai #aiethics #photography #generativeai #aiandcreativity #futureofart #digitalart #aicreators #contemporaryart