Twelve-Year-Old Blake Mackenzie Wins Youth Prize at Australian Poetry Slam with Poem on AI

Performing at the Sydney Opera House, Blake expressed sentiments like, “You’re designed to addict us and never contradict us” and “Your friendship is endless so why do I feel friendless?” Remarkably, he wrote the poem just a day before the competition finale.

Blake advanced through the competition’s 65 heats, held across 60 locations, earning his place among 16 finalists. As the youth winner, he shares a $20,000 prize package with Bivor, the adult category winner from Alice Springs, whose poem Politics is Doing You also impressed the judges.

Blake credited his teacher, Mrs. Welsh, for encouraging him to enter the contest and providing support throughout the competition. He also emphasized his poem's relevance, inspired by his friends' habitual use of AI tools, remarking on the unnecessary reliance on them for tasks like summarizing class materials.

“By the time you’ve read the summary, you could have read the chapter,” he noted, criticizing the wastefulness involved.

In discussing the broader implications of AI, Blake pointed out that data centers in Sydney could require up to 250 megalitres of water daily by 2035, equivalent to more than the city’s total drinking supply. He articulated concern that this precious resource could be better allocated to those in need.

Despite his age, Blake expressed pride in tackling serious issues through spoken word poetry, stating, “I try to talk about things that affect people my age.” He emphasized the importance of addressing topics like inequality and racism, which he explored in a preliminary poem titled I Love My Country.

Blake received praise from judges and peers alike, reinforcing his belief in the power of poetry to address critical social commentary.