Seattle Worldcon Chair Explicitly Details ChatGPT Application and Issues Another Sincere Apology
Twist in Sci-Fi's Biggest Event!
You might think the Hugo Awards are all about celebrating top-notch sci-fi, but they've had their fair share of drama. Recently, it's the 2025 Seattle Worldcon, home to the Hugos, that's got everyone talking—and not in a good way.
Here's the latest scoop, just unraveled in the past few weeks. The issue? ChatGPT, but don't worry, we're not talking about it influencing the actual awards. Instead, it was used to help select program participants for panels featuring sci-fi and fantasy luminaries during the convention.
Three folks involved, including two Hugo admins, recently stepped down due to the issue. Seattle Worldcon chair Kathy Bond released a statement, followed by an apology, but the controversy hasn't cooled down, with fans on social media and even potential Hugos contenders still heated.
Famed author Yoon Ha Lee, for instance, took his novel Moonstorm out of the running for the Lodestar Award. Yesterday, Bond posted another message, promising a redo of the part of the process that involved ChatGPT, with new volunteers taking over, and vowing to regain the community's trust.
Program division head SunnyJim Morgan also shared a statement, giving more details on how ChatGPT was used, including the actual prompt. According to Morgan, the team double-checked the AI's findings by manually reviewing the provided links and making their decisions. As a result, only a handful of people were disqualified.
Now, if you're curious about the fuss, here's a breakdown of the ChatGPT controversy, straight from the headlines:
- Lack of Transparency: The prompt used wasn't disclosed, and the process was described as murky.
- Potential for Error: AI, it's known, can deliver false or misleading information.
- Ethical Concerns: Questions about intellectual property and the environmental impact of running large language models were raised.
- Reputation Impact: The incident has added to the convention's controversy streak, following previous dust-ups.
With more updates promised for May 13, let's wait and see if the organizers can move past this ChatGPT debacle. What are your thoughts on all this? Are they handling things well, or should they have chosen a more human approach? Share your thoughts below!
Meanwhile, looking forward? Here's a sneak peek at the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, the future of DC Universe on film and TV, and all you need to know about the next Doctor Who installment. Stay tuned!
The Hugo Awards, despite being known for celebrating top-notch sci-fi, have been embroiled in controversies. The 2025 Seattle Worldcon, home to the Hugos, has been the center of recent drama due to the use of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in the selection process of panel participants at the convention.
This issue led to the stepping down of three individuals, including Hugo admins, resulting in heated debates among fans and potential award contenders on social media. Famed author Yoon Ha Lee even pulled his novel, Moonstorm, out of contention for the Lodestar Award.
In response, Seattle Worldcon chair Kathy Bond promised a redo of the process and vowed to regain the community's trust, while Program division head SunnyJim Morgan shared details on how ChatGPT was used, stating that the team double-checked the AI's findings.
The controversy has been driven by several factors, including lack of transparency, potential for error, ethical concerns, and reputation impact. As organizers promise updates on May 13, discussions continue on whether they should have opted for a more human approach.
On a lighter note, looking ahead in the fields of science, technology, space-and-astronomy, and future technology, the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases are eagerly awaited, as well as the future of DC Universe on film and TV, and the next Doctor Who installment. Stay tuned for more!
