Pokemon Company Disqualifies Several Entrants In TCG Art Contest, Possibly Over AI
Numerous entries in the 2024 Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest have been disqualified after The Pokemon Company cited that these submissions had violated the rules of the competition. Shortly after the top 300 entrants were announced, people online began to suggest that several of the finalists had submitted AI-generated images, and in a statement, The Pokemon Company acknowledged that it had disqualified “entrants in violation of the rules” but it did not directly mention AI.
“Additional artists participating in the contest will soon be selected to be among the top 300 finalists,” The Pokemon Company said in a statement (via Eurogamer). “We’re committed to upholding the integrity of the Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest and appreciate fans’ continued support as we celebrate the artistic abilities of the talented Pokemon community.”
With a grand prize of $5,000 and a chance to have their art immortalized as an official Pokemon TCG card, the Pokemon contest regularly attracts scores of submissions. On X (formerly Twitter) several people have pointed out some of the telltale signs of AI-generated images, suggesting that prompters submitted those images alongside legitimate artists.