World Press Photo contest defines photojournalism in the age of AI with strict rules
By
Jess Weatherbed
1mo ago· 3 min readenNews
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Summary
The World Press Photo competition is grappling with the definition of photography in the age of generative AI. The 2026 winning entry, "Separated by ICE" by Carol Guzy, depicts children clinging to their father after an immigration hearing. The contest enforces strict rules prohibiting AI tools to maintain the integrity of photojournalism and the capture of reality.
Key quotes
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The winning entry for 2026 — 'Separated by ICE,' captured by photojournalist Carol Guzy — was announced yesterday.
The photo had to abide by specific rules around the use of AI tools to be eligible for the competition.
The World Press Photo contest may provide the definitive answer to what is a photo in the age of generative AI.
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