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Two award-winning Kiwi authors have had their works excluded from contention for the nation's esteemed literary award due to the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 novel prize in October, but were ruled out the following month because of recently introduced guidelines concerning artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of both books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards organizers amended the guidelines in August, by which time the covers for every submitted title would have already been completed.

“It was, therefore, far too late for any publisher to have taken this clause into account in their design briefs,” the publisher said.

Authors' Reactions

The author expressed sympathy for the award organizers, stating she has deep concerns about AI in creative industries, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she remarked. “This marks my 22nd publication and my fourth short story anthology. These tales … were composed over roughly two decades, making this a particularly significant work for me.”

She further stated that authors usually have little input in cover design and was unaware artificial intelligence had been used for her cover, which displays a cat with human-like dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” the author said, adding that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she finds it difficult to recognize AI-generated images.

Johnson worried that readers might think she used artificial intelligence to write her book, which she emphatically denied.

“Rather than discussing my book's themes and inspirations, we're focused on this AI issue, which I despise.”

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the designers devoted hours crafting her book's cover, which includes a locomotive and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's imagery.

“It is them I am most concerned about: that their meticulous work … is being disrespected,” Smither remarked.

Prize Committee's Stance

The trust chair, chair of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, said the organization maintains a “firm stance on the use of AI in books.”

“The trust does not take lightly a decision that prevents the latest works of two of New Zealand’s most esteemed writers from being considered for the 2026 award,” Legat said.

“Nevertheless, the rules apply equally to every participant, no matter their standing, and must be enforced uniformly.”

The move to revise the artificial intelligence criteria was driven by a aim to support the artistic and intellectual property interests of the nation's authors and illustrators, she explained.

“With artificial intelligence advancing, the trust may need to review and refine these criteria in the future.”

Publishing Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishers and writers often employ software like grammar checkers and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this incident underscored the pressing requirement for carefully crafted policies.

“Our industry must collaborate to prevent a recurrence of this scenario.”

Both Smither and Johnson have in the past been jurors for categories of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that cover designs receive little attention during evaluation.

“The contents and the close reading were everything,” Smither said.

The use of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has encountered growing scrutiny as the tech advances, with some groups creating ways to counter its impact.