HDC's green solution to AI monument controversy

HDC has begun planting trees in Hulhumalé roundabouts instead of building monuments.

Last September, under the previous management's policy, a competition was opened to design monuments for roundabouts being constructed to improve traffic flow in Hulhumalé. However, when social media accusations emerged that then-Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed's management had selected AI-generated designs as the winner, HDC began investigating the matter.

Following Fazul's resignation and the appointment of Mauroof Jameel as HDC's new Managing Director, trees are to be planted in roundabouts instead of monuments.

HDC's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ahmed Ibrahim (Pokman) posted on X that the decision to build monuments in roundabouts was changed due to public criticism.

He said that one roundabout has already been planted with trees, which will become more beautiful as they grow and bloom.

When 'Mihaaru' inquired about the fate of the competition, HDC's Public Relations Assistant Manager Mohamed Siraj said today that there was significant public dissatisfaction when an AI-generated design won. Although they were investigating the issue at the time, he said the matter has now been put on hold.

According to him, the prize was never awarded to the competition winner.

"It was previously decided that the prize would only be given upon completion of the project's detailed drawings. But it never reached that stage," Siraj said.

The monument design competition for 17 locations in Hulhumalé was opened under the theme "Maldives of the Maldivians."

The competition offered a prize of MVR 100,000 to the winner, and seven parties submitted designs.

Although HDC stated that the winners were selected after evaluations by a panel of professional staff judges, people complained to the company, claiming that AI-generated designs had won first place.

As a result, the project was suspended even after announcing the first-place winner in November last year.

In a statement about the issue, HDC said the competition was held to incorporate local artists' ideas and vision in Hulhumalé's development work. They stated that the corporation would not act in ways that deny opportunities to local artists and that they always welcome public opinion and consultation on such matters relating to the public.