An energy company’s promotional contest is facing criticism after posting the entries from their 2024 PHILRECA Digi-Poster Competition on Facebook, which seemingly includes an AI artwork.
To show appreciation for their participation, the Cagayan 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CAGELCO 1) gave cash incentives to its representatives.
In a Facebook post, they wrote, “We commend these young talents for showcasing their creativity and passion, and we thank them for representing CAGELCO 1 with pride. CAGELCO 1 is proud of you! Thank you for sharing your talents and helping us shine a light on the importance of rural electrification!”
Many have remarked that it was disappointing to see an artist receive acclaim for an AI-generated image, even if the rules and procedures of the PHILRECA Digi-Poster Competition did not specifically state that entries created using AI were forbidden.
Social media users took to social media to share their thoughts about the given scenario.
Some defended the artist for the artwork that has been done.
In a statement issued by CAGELCO 1 in the comments section of their post of announced entries, they clarified that the artist behind the controversial artwork did not win the said digital poster contest.
“We would like to inform you that the artwork under scrutiny in question and currently a topic of discussion in the art community right now was not the winner of the Digital Poster-Making Contest initiated by PHILRECA. It is unfortunate that the artist is being bashed online for her work,” they wrote in the comments.
The artist’s monetary incentive was less than that of the artists whose entries were officially included in the competition, the elective cooperative emphasized.
Artificial intelligence has been heavily used in many ways, one of which is creating art. While it makes things faster in the process of creation, this holds an uneven plainfield for artists who have taken the time and effort in making their pieces. Guidelines for competitions like these should be clear in order for it to be more fair for the artists that are joining.
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