Zimbabwean Author Denies AI Use in Caine Prize Winning Story Amidst Review

Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza has denied using artificial intelligence to write his Caine Prize-winning short story, “The Blue Fighter,” stating that the work is inspired by his family’s experiences and suggesting that AI detection technology may be biased.

The $10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing, awarded last week, is currently under review following a report in The Atlantic that cited an AI detection tool, Pangram, indicating the story was largely AI-generated.

Kundizeza addressed the allegations on X and in an interview with The Associated Press, asserting that African writers and readers should question such accusations. "There is need to use technology responsibly so that it is not deployed to create a bias against natives who seek to write about their own experiences and cultures," he said. He added that AI is known to be biased in certain ways, and this type of treatment could continue if not examined.

The organizers of the Caine Prize have not revoked the prize but have confirmed that it is under review. They stated their commitment to examining AI claims with a human-centered approach, ensuring writers are supported throughout the process.

In his statement, Kundizeza maintained that “The Blue Fighter,” which focuses on family relationships and economic hardship, is entirely his own creation and underwent standard editorial processes. He described the story as deeply personal, reflecting his family’s life during Zimbabwe’s economic difficulties.

He also challenged the notion that differences between his winning story and earlier works cast doubt on his authorship. "As writers, we develop recurring interests, but we don’t produce work from a single fixed template. To suggest that a writer cannot write in different styles or genres, or improve his writing substantially after five or more years, fundamentally misunderstands the craft of writing,” he posted on X.

The controversy has fueled a broader discussion on social media, with some users questioning if Black authors are being unfairly targeted by AI-related allegations. An international group focused on political literature, Radical Books Collective, identified Kundizeza as the latest in a series of Black authors facing AI or plagiarism accusations, listing Jamir Nazir, Jerry Falade, and Thélyson Orélien as others.

Linguist Nhlandla Duba, from the University of Pretoria, commented on X that Kundizeza's story felt authentic, proclaiming, "That story sounds human. Zimbabwean literature is alive!"