Archive · 13 Aug 2026
AI scandal delays Commonwealth Short Story Prize opening to January
There is a big writing contest where people from many countries write short stories.
It is called the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
In 2026, five writers from different regions won it.
Then some people thought a computer program, called artificial intelligence, might have written parts of some winning stories.
A writer named Nabeel S Qureshi asked on X whether an AI-written story might win.
He said Jamir Nazir's story, 'The Serpent in the Grove,' had signs of AI.
Nazir's story had won the overall prize.
Other people also said two more stories looked like they involved AI.
The people in charge, the Commonwealth Foundation, were worried.
They decided to delay the next contest, moving its opening to January 2027.
The Commonwealth Foundation postponed the opening of the 2027 Commonwealth Short Story Prize to January.
The delay follows allegations that artificial intelligence was used to write some of this year's winning stories.
Overall prize winner Jamir Nazir's 'The Serpent in the Grove' was flagged for tell-tale signs of AI by Nabeel S Qureshi on X.
Internet sleuths also flagged 'The Bastion's Shadow' by John Edward DeMicoli and 'Mehendi Nights' by Sharon Aruparayil.
Controversy began after the five regional winners of the 2026 prize were announced and published in Granta.
- Who
- The Commonwealth Foundation, overall winner Jamir Nazir, writers John Edward DeMicoli and Sharon Aruparayil, and researcher Nabeel S Qureshi.
- What
- The opening of the 2027 Commonwealth Short Story Prize was postponed to January after allegations that AI was used to write some winning stories.
- When
- Announced on a Wednesday in 2026, following controversy that erupted earlier in the year after the 2026 regional winners were announced.
- Where
- The Commonwealth-wide competition; the 2026 winning stories were published in Granta and the allegations were raised on X.
- Why
- Because of allegations that artificial intelligence was used to write some of this year's winning stories, including the overall winner.
- Organization
- Commonwealth Foundation
- Decision
- 2027 prize opening postponed to January
- Overall winner flagged
- Jamir Nazir, 'The Serpent in the Grove' (Caribbean region)
- Other flagged stories
- 'The Bastion's Shadow' by John Edward DeMicoli and 'Mehendi Nights' by Sharon Aruparayil
- Accuser
- Nabeel S Qureshi, writer and researcher
- Publication
- Granta
- Platform
- X