The Nebula Awards have taken a firm stance against the use of artificial intelligence in the creative writing process, declaring that any work involving generative AI will not be eligible for nominations or wins. This decision was confirmed on Friday morning by Kate Risatu, the president of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), who detailed the awards’ nomination review process concerning large language model tools (LLMs).
Following the principle of "trust the voters," the SFWA made it clear that works entirely produced using generative LLM tools would be disqualified. Additionally, if any nominated piece utilized LLMs at any stage of its creation, that information would be noted on the ballot. This latter aspect of the rules sparked significant debate online, with numerous authors and fans criticizing the SFWA for what they perceived as only a partial commitment to opposing generative AI.
In response to the backlash, the association swiftly issued a revised statement, clarifying that any work created "wholly or partially" with such technology would now be deemed ineligible for the prestigious Nebula Awards. Furthermore, creators who employed LLMs at any point during their writing would be required to disclose this usage when accepting a nomination, leading to their disqualification from consideration.
The SFWA acknowledged that the initial guidelines did not align with their current values and beliefs, saying, "To be clear, SFWA does not support the use of LLM generative models in the production of creative work." They also promised updates to the posted rules in the coming days to reflect this change.
The use of generative AI and LLMs has become a contentious issue in creative fields like writing and video game development. For instance, earlier this week, Larian Studios, renowned for developing Baldur’s Gate 3, faced criticism when founder and game director Swen Vincke revealed that they were utilizing generative AI to brainstorm ideas, create PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art, and draft placeholder text. Although he assured audiences that AI-generated content would not appear in their upcoming game, Divinity, Vincke maintained that after addressing initial concerns, everyone at Larian was generally comfortable with how they were leveraging AI.
This admission drew ire from players and various game developers, particularly from former Larian staff or writers who expressed dissatisfaction with the studio's hiring practices. In defense of his team's approach, Vincke stated that machine-learning tools were intended to complement the creative processes of individuals rather than replace their skills or artistry. He reassured critics, stating, "We are neither releasing a game with any AI components, nor are we looking to reduce our teams in favor of AI."
In light of the controversy following the Bloomberg interview, Vincke announced a Reddit AMA featuring Larian staff to provide further clarity. He recognized that the initial discussion might have been misinterpreted and added, "To offer more insight, we will host an AMA where you can directly ask questions about Divinity and our development process after the holiday break." Specific details regarding the date of the AMA and participating staff members will be shared in the new year.
The winners of the 2026 Nebula Awards are scheduled to be announced during the awards conference in Chicago, taking place from June 5 to June 7.
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