Going forward, the Nebula Awards aren’t allowing for anything remotely involved with generative AI to be eligible for nominations, much less win.
On Friday morning, Kate Risatu, president of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), reiterated the awards’ review process as it relates to large language model tools (LLMs). Sticking to the philosophy of “trust the voters,” the SFWA decreed any works “wholly written using generative LLM tools” were ineligible, and if a nominated work used LLMs “at any point” during the writing process, that’ll be conveyed in the ballot.
It was the second part of those rules that stirred up controversy in online spaces, with several authors and fans condemning the SFWA for taking only half a stand against generative AI and LLMs. Hours later, the association released a new statement with amended language, stating works written “either wholly or partially” with the technology were ineligible for the Nebula Awards. Creators who used LLMs at all during the writing process will have to disclose their use upon accepting a nomination, after which they’ll be disqualified.
Speaking to the original rules, the SFWA acknowledged those “didn’t reflect our current policy and deeply held beliefs and values, and they were amended to reflect that. To be clear, SFWA does not support the use of LLM generative models in the production of creative work.” It also said the posted rules will be changed to reflect this in the coming days.
Generative AI and LLMs are controversial in creative spaces such as writing and video games. Earlier this week, Larian Studios—creators of Baldur’s Gate 3, which Risatu name-checks in the initial statement—came under fire when founder and game director Swen Vincke told Bloomberg the studio was using generative AI to “explore ideas, flesh out PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art, and write placeholder text.” Such AI-generated content won’t be in the studio’s next game, Divinity, and while acknowledging his staff’s initial skepticism, Vincke believed “everyone at the company is more or less OK with the way we’re using it.”
That resulted in criticism from players and several game developers, with much input from the latter category coming from ex-Larian staff or writers who took issue with Larian’s hiring process. In response, Vincke assured machine-learning tools were “additive to a creative team or individual’s workflow, not a replacement for their skill or craft. […] We are neither releasing a game with any AI components, nor are we looking at trimming down teams to replace them with AI.”
As of this past Thursday, Vincke announced a Reddit AMA involving Larian staff, since the initial Bloomberg interview (and following controversy) “has become lost in translation. To give you more insight, we’ll do an AMA featuring our different departments after the holiday break, in which you’ll get the opportunity to ask us any questions you have about Divinity and our dev process directly.” The date for that AMA, and who all will be involved, will be revealed in the new year.
The winners for the 2026 Nebula Awards will be revealed during the awards conference in Chicago, which runs from June 5 to June 7.
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