"This is probably the first significant photography prize in China that awards AI-generated images. It is bound to trigger fierce discussions about where photography is headed," said Wu Yiqiang, an art and photography critic, in a post on the social media platform Xiaohongshu. 

One of the most upvoted comments under Wu's post asked if AI-generated images based on image input can be considered a form of post-production like Photoshopping, which almost every photographer uses to achieve the desired effect, and if recording reality is the fundamental task of photography as an art form. 

Chen, in response to the controversy over his win, said that photography is a medium of artistic expression for him. At the same time, AI can help break through the upper limits of straight photography to realize creative vision, which is not much different from directors using special effects.