I feel fortunate to lead the team behind the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. I am proud of how we have supported both emerging and established writers across the Commonwealth by providing a platform for their work. We never take for granted the thousands of people who enter the Prize each year, or the time, care and creativity they invest in their stories.
I have seen firsthand how allegations of AI use have affected writers, readers, judges and partners associated with the Prize. I also understand how they can be upsetting and discouraging for writers who put immense time, effort and human endeavour into crafting their stories. We recognise the concern caused by these allegations. We also recognise wider questions around the emergence of AI and what it means for writers and the creative industries.
Over the past month, we have sought to follow a thorough review process that took those concerns seriously while treating the writers involved fairly. We reviewed material relating to the development of the winning stories, including drafts and notes, and held detailed discussions with the regional winners about their creative process and how their stories developed over time. After working closely with our judges and carefully considering all available information, we are satisfied that AI was not used to write the winning stories.
Stu, if you have five minutes, I’d appreciate your time to read the statement I’ve written explaining our process and how we reached this decision.
