A surge in AI-generated submissions to a prestigious Japanese literary award is causing a crisis for the competition. The influx of novels written by artificial intelligence has dramatically increased judging costs. Organizers are now questioning the award’s financial viability and very existence. The unexpected volume of AI entries has overwhelmed the selection process, prompting concerns about maintaining the award’s standards. Experts suggest the situation highlights the growing impact of AI on creative fields. This raises broader questions about the future of literary awards and the definition of authorship in the age of artificial intelligence. The competition’s organizers are currently evaluating potential solutions to address the challenges posed by this new trend.