Hugo Awards Team Members Resign Over Use of AI by Worldcon

The use of AI is controversial in creative spaces with a lot of the current use of the technology involving theft of the works of others. Three members of the Hugo Awards team have resigned over what would seem to be the use of AI by Worldcon.

In late April, Worldcon made a statement regarding the use of AI tools in its vetting process for program participants. In the statement, the convention said it used LLM to vet proposed panelists with the output analyzed after. It justified the use by saying it “saved literally hundreds of hours of volunteer staff time,” an excuse used by corporations to fire staff and not hire human beings for new positions. AI also uses a significant amount of energy and resources negatively impacting the environment.

The three individuals wrote in their announcement:

Effective immediately, Cassidy (WSFS DH), Nicholas Whyte (Hugo Administrator) and Esther MacCallum-Stewart (Deputy Hugo Administrator) resign from their respective roles from the Seattle 2025 Worldcon. We do not see a path forward that enables us to make further contributions at this stage.

We want to reaffirm that no LLMs or generative AI have been used in the Hugo Awards process at any stage. Our nomination software NomNom is well-documented on GitHub for anyone to be able to review. We firmly believe in transparency for the awards process and for the Finalists who have been nominated. We believe that the Hugo Awards exist to celebrate our community which is filled with artists, authors, and fans who adore the works of our creative SFF community. Our belief in the mission of the Hugo Awards, and Worldcon in general has guided our actions in the administration of these awards, and now guides our actions in leaving the Seattle Worldcon.

The Hugo Awards have been hit with issues and controversy over recent years. In 2024, the awards discovered and disqualified fraudulent votes. In 2023, it was accused of censorship due to it being held in China. Leaked emails suggested organizers tampered with votes and excluded potential nominees for political reasons.