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Hugo Administrators Resign in Wake of ChatGPT Controversy (x-posted in GD)
https://gizmodo.com/worldcon-2025-chatgpt-controversy-hugos-2000598351In a post on Bluesky co-signed by Hugo administrator Nicholas Whyte, deputy Hugo administrator Esther MacCallum-Stewart, and World Science Fiction Society division head Cassidy, the trio announced they were resigning from their roles ahead of the Seattle event, which takes place in August. “We want to reaffirm that no LLMs or generative AI have been used in the Hugo Awards process at any stage,” the statement read in part, which might turn the heads of anyone who is a) interested in the Hugos, but b) not up on the latest controversy.
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“We have received questions regarding Seattle’s use of AI tools in our vetting process for program participants,” Seattle Worldcon 2025 chair Kathy Bond wrote. “In the interest of transparency, we will explain the process of how we are using a Large Language Model (LLM). We understand that members of our community have very reasonable concerns and strong opinions about using LLMs. Please be assured that no data other than a proposed panelist’s name has been put into the LLM script that was used. Let’s repeat that point: no data other than a proposed panelist’s name has been put into the LLM script. The sole purpose of using the LLM was to streamline the online search process used for program participant vetting, and rather than being accepted uncritically, the outputs were carefully analyzed by multiple members of our team for accuracy.”
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Bond later posted an additional message on May 2, re-iterating her apology about using ChatGPT as part of the convention’s program vetting. “Additionally, I regret releasing a statement that did not address the concerns of our community,” she shared. “My initial statement on the use of AI tools in program vetting was incomplete, flawed, and missed the most crucial points. I acknowledge my mistake and am truly sorry for the harm it caused.”
However, as File 770 pointed out, the damage has apparently already been done: the use of ChatGPT in any capacity in connection to Worldcon created a furor on social media. It also inspired at least one Hugo nominee to remove their book from contention: Yoon Ha Lee, whose Moonstorm was named a Lodestar Award finalist, which honors YA releases. In a May 1 post on Bluesky, (great, requires sign-in to read) the author linked to the April 30 Worldcon blog post noted above, and noted he was withdrawing the title from consideration.
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“We have received questions regarding Seattle’s use of AI tools in our vetting process for program participants,” Seattle Worldcon 2025 chair Kathy Bond wrote. “In the interest of transparency, we will explain the process of how we are using a Large Language Model (LLM). We understand that members of our community have very reasonable concerns and strong opinions about using LLMs. Please be assured that no data other than a proposed panelist’s name has been put into the LLM script that was used. Let’s repeat that point: no data other than a proposed panelist’s name has been put into the LLM script. The sole purpose of using the LLM was to streamline the online search process used for program participant vetting, and rather than being accepted uncritically, the outputs were carefully analyzed by multiple members of our team for accuracy.”
skip
Bond later posted an additional message on May 2, re-iterating her apology about using ChatGPT as part of the convention’s program vetting. “Additionally, I regret releasing a statement that did not address the concerns of our community,” she shared. “My initial statement on the use of AI tools in program vetting was incomplete, flawed, and missed the most crucial points. I acknowledge my mistake and am truly sorry for the harm it caused.”
However, as File 770 pointed out, the damage has apparently already been done: the use of ChatGPT in any capacity in connection to Worldcon created a furor on social media. It also inspired at least one Hugo nominee to remove their book from contention: Yoon Ha Lee, whose Moonstorm was named a Lodestar Award finalist, which honors YA releases. In a May 1 post on Bluesky, (great, requires sign-in to read) the author linked to the April 30 Worldcon blog post noted above, and noted he was withdrawing the title from consideration.
Blog File 270: https://file770.com/seattle-worldcon-2025-chatgpt-controversy-roundup/
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