AI Detection Divide: Well-Funded Writing Competitions Gain Edge Over Smaller Events

Literary competitions increasingly deploy AI detection tools to screen submissions, but infrastructure costs create a tiered landscape. Organizations like the Next Generation Short Story Awards run dual-layer screening combining AI checkers and plagiarism detection. Smaller events lack resources for such systems, relying instead on honor codes or basic tools. This capability gap risks unequal enforcement of anti-AI policies across the industry, favoring competitions with larger budgets and technical staff.