Japanese well-known publishing platform Alphapolis recently became the center of an industry controversy. In the 18th Fantasy Novel Award held by the platform, a work titled "Organizing and Tidying Up" won both the "Grand Prize" and the "Reader's Award," but it was later revealed that its main content was created by generative AI. The official immediately issued a statement, not only revoking the work's award eligibility but also urgently halting the planned physical book publication and manga adaptation.

According to the information, the work used the popular "reincarnation into another world" template, telling the story of a salaryman female protagonist who uses the "organizing and tidying up" skill to reform the other world. Due to the highly formulaic nature of such "feel-good" plots, it provided convenience for AI involvement. The author later admitted to using "a large amount of generative AI tools" in the creation process.

Alphapolis responded quickly, clearly stipulating that works generated by AI would be prohibited from participating in future competitions.

However, the penetration of AI in the cultural and creative fields did not stop there. In contrast to the novel's award withdrawal, the AI-assisted manga "Dear Wife, Would You Like to Be My Girlfriend?" successfully topped the sales chart at Japanese e-book stores Comic C’moA by the end of 2025. Although some readers criticized the AI-generated illustrations for being stiff, its commercial success is undeniable.

These series of events indicate that the creative industry will face greater challenges in 2026. Industry insiders believe that with the popularity of AI tools, the public's attention to the source of content is gradually decreasing, and "whether it's good or not" may become the only standard for the market. For human creators, how to provide unique emotional experiences that AI cannot replace has become a key issue for survival in the algorithm era.

Key Points:

  • 🚫 Strictly Prohibit AI Participation: Due to the large use of AI in the creation of the book "Organizing and Tidying Up," the Alphapolis platform formally revoked its grand prize eligibility and banned such works from participating in future competitions.

  • 📈 Strong Commercial Performance: Although the novel faced obstacles, the AI-created manga has already achieved the top spot on mainstream Japanese e-book stores, showing significant market potential.

  • ⚖️ Divided Opinions: Readers' acceptance of AI content is gradually increasing, and the market seems to care more about the entertainment value and quality of the finished product than "who drew it."