Simbarashe Kundizeza denied using AI to write his Caine Prize-winning story. The Atlantic reported AI-detection software Pangram flagged his work as entirely AI-generated. Kundizeza stated he wrote The Blue Fighter himself. Caine Prize chair Ellah Wakatama criticized The Atlantic for publishing without full investigation. Wakatama said the prize does not check submissions for AI but relies on writers' vows. Kundizeza will provide draft documentation for an internal Caine Prize review. African writers accused The Atlantic of disproportionately targeting non-white authors. Kundizeza said his story was inspired by a poem about fish tanks and his family’s struggles. The Atlantic’s author cited stylistic patterns common in AI-generated texts. Kundizeza said writers can evolve styles and genres over time.

• £10,000 prize money
• $13,000 prize money