News•May 18, 2026
Submit a Story to the Protopian Prize and Get Published in an MIT Press Anthology
The Protopian Prize, a new fiction contest launched by Ruthanna Emrys and a MIT Press editor, seeks stories that envision democratic governance and human‑centric AI. Submissions opened on May 1 and close on July 31, with the two winners each receiving $5,000 and a spot in an MIT Press anthology alongside established science‑fiction authors. The contest builds on Kevin Kelly’s "protopia" idea—incremental improvement over dystopia—to counteract the prevailing bleak narratives around AI and democracy. MIT Press’s involvement signals growing publisher interest in optimistic speculative futures.
