Japanese author Rie Kudan recently clinched the coveted Akutagawa Prize, a testament to her literary prowess. However, what caught the attention of many was her candid admission that she enlisted the help of an unusual collaborator - ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) language model.

In her post-award press conference, Kudan revealed that approximately 5% of her acclaimed novel, "The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy," was generated word-for-word by AI. The 33-year-old author stated that she intends to keep benefiting from using AI in writing her novels but will also put her creative mind into play. This revelation adds a new dimension to the age-old debate surrounding the intersection of creativity and technology. 

The Winning Piece

Kudan's award-winning novel delves into the dilemma faced by an architect tasked with constructing a modern high-rise prison in Tokyo. The story revolves around architect Sara Makina and Takuto, a young man chronicling her biography. As Makina navigates the complexities of her design, her intolerance for offenders becomes a stumbling block.

The narrative, labeled as 'practically flawless' by committee members, weaves a compelling story around the challenges of rehabilitating lawbreakers. Intriguingly, AI itself serves as a central theme in the novel.

Beyond her novels, Kudan confessed to consulting ChatGPT in her personal life when grappling with dilemmas she felt uncomfortable sharing with others. She acknowledged that sometimes when the AI's responses diverged from her expectations, she incorporated those unexpected insights into the inner thoughts of her main characters.

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A Controversial Trend in the Arts

Kudan is not the first artist to stir controversy by incorporating AI into their creative process. Last year, photographer Boris Eldagsen withdrew from the Sony World Photography Awards after admitting his winning entry was crafted using AI. This development worries artists about the impact of technology on their careers.

George R. R. Martin, Jodi Picoult, John Grisham, and other renowned authors initiated a class action lawsuit against OpenAI. They alleged the unauthorized use of their copyrighted works in training AI systems to achieve more human-like responses. Over 10,000 authors, including James Patterson, Roxane Gay, and Margaret Atwood, signed an open letter to AI industry leaders echoing similar sentiments, urging them to obtain consent and ensure fair compensation when using their works. 

Perspective of the Committee and Social Media

Despite the controversy, Keiichiro Hirano, a writer and prize committee member, clarified on an X post that Kudan's use of AI did not pose a problem for the selection committee. Hirano emphasized that the generative AI was explicitly mentioned within the text of "Tokyo Sympathy Tower," dismissing any perceived issues with its usage.

The news of Kudan's AI collaboration sparked diverse reactions on social media. While some expressed fascination with her innovative approach, viewing it as an intriguing blend of human creativity and technological assistance, others criticized it as 'disrespectful' to authors who adhere strictly to traditional writing methods.

Concerns arise about what might happen to literature in the future if AI is allowed to vie for major awards. The use of generative AI in creative areas is a hot topic, mainly because these systems learn from a vast collection of other authors' works. AI systems can reproduce texts they learned entirely, including personal details taken from real people on the Internet. 

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