Soyinka Warns Scientists: Don’t Let AI Erode Human Creativity

Nobel Laureate Calls for Clear Boundaries in AI Development

NOBEL laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has urged scientists, physicists and technology developers to establish clear boundaries for artificial intelligence, warning that excessive dependence on the technology could weaken human creativity, imagination and independent thought.

Soyinka delivered the warning at the 2026 Nigerian Prize Awards Night organised by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Lagos. The ceremony, held under the theme “Heritage,” brought together members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, industry leaders, academics, scientists, writers and creative professionals.

Although he acknowledged AI’s potential to advance human progress, the renowned playwright cautioned that its growing capabilities should not obscure the risks of allowing machines to perform tasks central to human intellectual and creative expression.

“The menace that AI constitutes, despite the fascination with this incredible facilitator for human progress, the menace is a very real one,” he said.

For Soyinka, the challenge is not whether society should embrace technological innovation. Rather, it is how to ensure that innovation strengthens human capacity instead of gradually displacing it.

He therefore called on researchers and developers to recognise the limits of artificial intelligence, particularly in literature and other creative disciplines where personal experience, imagination and individual expression remain fundamental.

Overreliance on AI Could Weaken the Imagination

Soyinka expressed concern about the growing use of artificial intelligence to produce academic theses, poetry and other forms of creative work. He warned that surrendering such intellectual responsibilities to machines could gradually diminish people’s ability to think and create independently.

“When AI begins to write our thesis, to write our poetry, or to claim that they are writing our poetry for us, there’s danger. That means we’re being dehumanised,” he said.

He reinforced the warning by arguing that excessive dependence on machine-generated work could cause human imagination to weaken through disuse.

“We’re allowing our imagination to atrophy,” he added.

His concerns extend beyond the production of written material. Soyinka also raised the possibility that increasingly sophisticated systems could generate digital versions of writers and other creative professionals, reproducing their mannerisms, gestures and personalities in ways that could mislead audiences.

He said the emergence of such digital imitations would create difficult questions about identity, authenticity and the ownership of creative expression.

“When you begin to see a clone of a writer, a clone of the prize winner, on the internet, masquerading, imitating gestures which you thought could only be made by human beings, then there’s a real problem,” he said.

The warning points to a broader challenge confronting the creative industries: as technology becomes increasingly capable of generating content and imitating human behaviour, audiences may find it more difficult to distinguish authentic human expression from artificial reproductions.

Technology Should Support Humanity, Not Replace It

Despite his reservations, Soyinka made clear that he was not calling for a halt to technological advancement. Instead, he argued that developers should ensure machines remain instruments of human progress rather than substitutes for human identity and imagination.

“Machines cannot create for us. They can create, they can measure, but they cannot replace humanity,” he said.

He appealed for closer cooperation between the sciences and the humanities, maintaining that ethical reflection and an understanding of human values should inform the design and application of artificial intelligence.

“So, I appeal to all of you, please humanise machines. Not let machines machinise humanity,” he said.

The distinction captures the central argument of his address: technological capability alone should not determine how a society uses an invention. Questions about human dignity, intellectual independence, creativity and social responsibility must also influence the decisions of those who develop and deploy it.

Soyinka consequently urged NLNG to consider introducing a special consolation prize that would recognise and protect human creativity amid the expanding influence of artificial intelligence.

He also argued that the humanities have an essential role in defining the ethical limits of emerging technologies. In his view, scientists and humanists should approach the challenge through mutual respect and collaboration rather than treating their disciplines as competing fields.

Imagination Also Drives Scientific Discovery

To explain the connection between science and the humanities, Soyinka challenged the notion that imagination belongs exclusively to writers, poets and artists.

He maintained that scientific investigation also requires vision, interpretation and the ability to look beyond existing facts. Researchers must use imagination to identify patterns, develop theories and translate information into meaningful discoveries.

“In fact, if you have no imagination to begin with, you will not translate facts, figures, metallurgy, physical sciences, without imagination, you will not even begin to do your calculations. You have to have a vision to start with,” he said.

His argument presents creativity as a shared foundation of intellectual progress. While scientific methods rely on evidence, measurement and analysis, the questions researchers ask and the possibilities they investigate also depend on imagination.

Consequently, Soyinka’s appeal was not simply a defence of literature against technological change. It was also a call for scientific innovation to remain connected to the human capacities that make discovery possible.

He commended NLNG for bringing literary, scientific and creative communities together through its awards, describing the initiative as an opportunity to broaden imagination and encourage collaboration across disciplines.

NLNG Highlights Heritage & National Development

Earlier, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Adeleye Falade described the company’s awards as important platforms for recognising excellence in Nigeria’s literary and scientific communities.

Falade said the theme, “Heritage,” highlighted the responsibility to preserve national achievements, strengthen shared values and create opportunities for future generations.

“Heritage is not merely a record of our past. It is the legacy we preserve, strengthen and pass on. It is reflected in the values we uphold, the achievements we celebrate and the opportunities that we create for future generations,” he said.

He explained that NLNG’s support for the awards reflected its belief that recognising excellence in literature, science and the creative arts could contribute to national development while inspiring emerging talents.

According to Falade, the Nigerian Prize for Science and Innovation has recognised contributions across critical fields, including health, agriculture, engineering, energy, technology, climate resilience and sustainable development.

He noted that the award celebrates researchers whose work extends beyond laboratories and academic publications to produce practical solutions capable of improving lives.

Falade also highlighted the potential of the current science prize winner’s work in artificial intelligence and information technology to transform lives in Nigeria and internationally.

Meanwhile, he described the Nigerian Prize for Literature as one of Africa’s prominent literary honours, providing a platform for outstanding writers and contributing to wider conversations about identity, resilience and shared humanity.

Creative Arts Prize Expands the Awards’ Reach

Falade said the achievements of prize winners contribute to Nigeria’s intellectual heritage because their discoveries, stories and artistic works can inspire future generations.

He also highlighted the Nigerian Prize for Creative Arts, presented for the first time at the 2026 ceremony after its launch the previous year.

The prize recognises originality, authenticity and creative excellence across music, film, visual arts, fashion, theatre and other artistic fields. According to Falade, it is intended to celebrate artists who preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage while reinterpreting it for younger audiences.

“From Lagos to London, from Abuja to Atlanta, from Port Harcourt to Paris, Nigerian creativity speaks a language the world understands,” he said.

He congratulated the finalists and winners, describing their accomplishments as evidence of the discipline, dedication and perseverance required to achieve excellence.

Falade reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to initiatives that recognise talent, promote innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s contribution to global literary, scientific and creative communities.

The awards night brought together distinguished guests from government, academia, industry, diplomacy and the creative sector to celebrate outstanding achievements under the theme of heritage.

As artificial intelligence continues to expand its influence, Soyinka’s message placed a fundamental question before the scientific and creative communities: how can society benefit from increasingly powerful machines without surrendering the imagination, identity and human values that give innovation its purpose?