A German artist has refused a prestigious world photo award for an image he created using artificial intelligence, declaring photography competitions aren't ready to deal with the new technology.

In a statement on his website, long-time photographer Boris Eldagsen, who has more recently shifted his focus to AI-generated images, said he applied as a "cheeky monkey" to test whether competitions are prepared for AI images to enter. 

"They are not," he said.

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Calling his win for the "first AI-generated image to win in a prestigous (sic) international photography competition" a "historic moment", Eldagsen refused the prize for his image, Pseudomnesia: The Electrician.

"How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn't feel right, does it?" he said, in the statement posted last week.

"AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this. 

"They are different entities. AI is not photography. Therefore I will not accept the award."

The artist called for an open discussion about what was considered to be photography, and whether that included AI images, while highlighting the complex work that went into the image. 

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"For me, working with AI image generators is a co-creation, in which I am the director," he said.

"It is not about pressing a button – and done it is."

Eldagsen's stunt comes as the rapid recent acceleration of AI technologies, most famously ChatGPT, portends major changes in various parts of society from art and photography through to writing, coding and even the legal industry.

It follows US game designer Jason M. Allen's win in the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Competition with an image created with AI art program Midjourney.

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The World Photography Organisation said it had confirmed the "co-creation" of the image with AI, while heavily relying on his "wealth of photographic knowledge".

The spokesperson said the artist's statement after winning noted his "deliberate attempts at misleading us", thereby invalidating the warranties he'd given organisers.

"The Creative category of the Open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image making from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices," the spokesperson said.

"As such, following our correspondence with Boris and the warranties he provided, we felt that his entry fulfilled the criteria for this category, and we were supportive of his participation. 

"Additionally, we were looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris' wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for our website.

"As he has now decided to decline his award we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition."

The spokesperson requested for the statement to be reproduced in full:

"During our various exchanges with Boris Eldagsen ahead of announcing him as the Creative category winner in the Open competition on 14th March, he had confirmed the 'co-creation' of this image using AI. In our correspondence he explained how following 'two decades of photography, my artistic focus has shifted more to exploring creative possibilities of AI generators' and further emphasising the image heavily relies on his 'wealth of photographic knowledge'. As per the rules of the competition, the photographers provide the warranties of their entry.

"The Creative category of the Open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image making from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices. As such, following our correspondence with Boris and the warranties he provided, we felt that his entry fulfilled the criteria for this category, and we were supportive of his participation. Additionally, we were looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris' wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for our website.

"As he has now decided to decline his award we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition. Given his actions and subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts at misleading us, and therefore invalidating the warranties he provided, we no longer feel we are able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him.

"We recognise the importance of this subject and its impact on image-making today. We look forward to further exploring this topic via our various channels and programmes and welcome the conversation around it. While elements of AI practices are relevant in artistic contexts of image-making, the Awards always have been and will continue to be a platform for championing the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium."

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Tourists have flooded into a Western Australian town in preparation for the total solar eclipse set to grace the state on Thursday.

The eclipse will reach full totality over Ningaloo, on the west coast about halfway between Perth and Broome, causing tourists to flock to Exmouth Gulf to catch the once-in-a-century sight.

The state government has poured millions into the town to ensure it can sustain the 3000 expected visitors from around the world.

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"There's been a lot of work put into the management of this event by the state government with over $20 million spent to facilitate the management of this experience," James Archibald from Tourism WA said.

A viewing platform 30 kilometres away from the town in Learmonth has been set up to fit thousands of viewers inside an old Kailis prawn processing factory.

WA's last total solar eclipse was in 1974 but there's usually only one every 100 years or so, or hundreds of years if limited to just one part of state.

Associate Professor Katarina Miljkovic from Curtin University's Space Science and Technology Centre said total eclipses occurred about once every year but were only visible from "a tiny portion on the surface of our planet".

"Given that two-thirds of our surface is covered by oceans, it is very frequent that the path of the totality falls on the oceans, where it is extremely hard to witness the event," she said.

The "rare opportunity" of seeing total coverage has drawn eclipse chasers and astronomers from all over the world to the small town, according to the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

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As the event inches closer more details are being divulged, including how long the state will be plunged into darkness.

"The closer to the centreline of totality, the more darkness you're gonna get, and at this eclipse we are looking at 62 seconds of darkness at the centreline," Dan Holbrook from the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation said.

Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy executive director Professor Steve Tingay urged everyone to seek out a total eclipse at some point in their life.

He shared fond memories of seeing the total darkening in Queensland in 2012 and a partial one in Bendigo in 1976.

"I vividly remember being inside at a window during the eclipse, where there was a big old gum tree outside," he said.

"Thousands of the leaves on the tree had little holes in them, which formed thousands of pinhole cameras, and threw thousands of images of the eclipse onto the ground.

"I remember being deeply in awe and I think that was one of my early experiences that drew me to physics and astronomy."

The eclipse will start at 11.27am (1.27pm AEST) on Thursday.

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When a young family lost their dream home in a fire in Sydney's south-west, their one comfort was they were covered by home and contents insurance. Or so they thought.

Renee and Bruno had been living with their two children in their Gledswood Hills home for five months before their house erupted in flames on November 17 last year.

The couple's toddlers were napping upstairs when the house caught fire.

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"I had no idea that my kids' lives were in danger until I walked up the stairs and saw the roof engulfed in flames," Renee said.

"Next thing I knew my son was screaming for his life.

"There was no smell, there was no smoke alarms.

"I was looking at this home which was brand new, we had lived in it for five months and I knew … I knew I wasn't going to be back in that home.

"I got my kids, I got my two children and that's really what matters."

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Renee said she had home and contents insurance but didn't realise it wasn't enough.

"We are covered is what we thought … only to find we were underinsured by $350,000.

"That broke me."

Their new Sekisui home was purchased in a house and land package, insured by Westpac and underwritten by Allianz.

The couple claims their valuation report for their mortgage gave an insurance estimate of $815,000 for the house but Westpac only insured it for $500,000.

It means the couple is $350,000 short of what they need to rebuild. 

Renee and Bruno said the privileged valuation was only released to them after the fire. 

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"We trusted the bank … We left the biggest and most important part of the house in the hands of bank, who we've banked with our whole life," Renee said.

"Here we are five months on from the fire, with a half demolished house … No money because we haven't been paid out."

They have only received $190,000 of their insurance payout. The rest was put straight on the mortgage.

"Every phone call with the insurance I feel like I'm getting into a boxing ring with Mike Tyson. It's just blow after blow," Bruno said.

"Our mantra's been since that day: like a phoenix we'll rise from the ashes, and just trying to push through."

An investigation is still underway into what caused the electrical fire.

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A Westpac spokesperson said it was distressing when any customer experienced a significant loss event and it worked with customers to support them.

"When you take out a mortgage, it is important to have the right amount of insurance to cover the cost of replacing your home and belongings if something unexpected happens," a spokesperson said.

"It is important that customers understand the value of their home and contents when providing instructions for a home and/or contents insurance policy.

"Westpac is not able to advise customers on the appropriate level of insurance for their needs."

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The Insurance Council of Australia said underinsurance was a real and significant issue for homeowners across the nation.

"In most cases we think that underinsurance is accidental," said Mathew Jones from the council.

"It's particularly the case at the moment where we're seeing really high inflation… particularly in the building and construction industry.

"So the cost of rebuilding a home is going to be substantially different to a quote you may have got to rebuild or repair a home."

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According to Corelogic, the cost of construction jumped by 11.9 per cent last year.

Jones is encouraging all property owners to check their insurance policies.

"It's really important people do their homework and at the time of renewal or buying a policy," Jones said.

"Go online either on their insurers website or the insurance council's website and use the home and contents calculator to really have a good understanding of the real cost of rebuilding."

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A rescue operation is underway after a factory worker became stuck inside a piece of machinery at a recycling facility in Adelaide.

Paramedics were working to free the employee, believed to be in his 50s, who became trapped at the facility on Blackburn Street in Kilburn just after 3.30pm.

The Metro Fire Service and a medical retrieval team were working to free the man, who has reportedly seriously injured his legs in the accident.

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https://twitter.com/9NewsAdel/status/1647866577348612096

His condition is still unclear.

More to come. 

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Locals and business owners are begging for help following a string of violent encounters on a popular Melbourne street.

Anti-social behaviour towards locals has spiked on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda.

CCTV footage obtained by 9News shows locals being subjected to physical violence including items being thrown, screaming and a man being punched in the head.

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A number of the encounters have involved members of the homeless population in the area, locals claim.

Charlotte Frajman, who owns Caremore Pharmacy, says the incidents are losing her business at least one long-term customer per week.

"It's just out of control," she said.

"It's not like we don't have a heart – we have the biggest heart – but on the other hand, we're watching our whole business be destroyed.

"We can't afford to. This is our superannuation."

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Police say the situation is difficult to navigate and the key is trying to encourage those affected to enter rehabilitation programs and shelters.

"Without their consent, it makes introducing those people into those environments and facilities and opportunities difficult but it doesn't mean we stop trying," Inspector Jim Lappin said.

"The appearance there might be that we can just move on anyone but we have to manage human rights as well."

Port Phillip Council Deputy Mayor Andrew Bond said while it's "not great" the public is having these encounters, he maintained it's "not a crime to be homeless" and noted the city does not have move-on powers. 

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A "uninhabitable" Sydney rental property is being offered to a tenant for free in exchange for a long list of renovations that need to be done on the house.

The fibro home on David Street in Greenacre has three bedrooms and two bathrooms but is in urgent need of repair, with the landlord promising to offset spending.

Real estate agent Rabie Chehade told 9News one of the bathrooms needed work and so too did the kitchen.

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Chehade described the property as uninhabitable in the listing because the walls need painting, the timber floods need sanding and rooms needed to be gyprocked again.

"Demand has been crazy," Chehade said.

"Within a few hours we had 50 to 60 enquiries."

He said it would be a win-win for the landlord and the tenant.

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"The property has been in the family for over 50 years.

"They have started some work on it but it has been like it for three years."

Chehade said tenants would need to have a trade license to be successful and many qualified applicants had already enquired.

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"There is a demand for rental properties, there is not enough rental properties in the market at the moment and there is an opportunity for this one."

The home could lease for $650 per week meaning it would save the owner $33,800 per year.

According to Canstar Blue the average minimum cost to renovate a home this size is $42,500.

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The two donors have given almost $500,000 to National and Act in recent years.

The worst rain should hit between Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.

Launched in 2020, its aim is to inspire a new generation of emerging Māori artists.

Lawyer threatened to make complaint to Immigration NZ to force client’s ex into settling.