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Two acclaimed Kiwi writers have had their works disqualified from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary award because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in October, but were disqualified the following month due to new rules regarding AI use.

The publishing house of both titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards committee amended the criteria in August, by which point the covers for every submitted title would have previously been finalized.

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

Authors' Responses

The author voiced sympathy for the prize administrators, stating she shares serious worries about artificial intelligence in creative industries, but was let down by the ruling.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she remarked. “It’s my 22nd book, and it is my fourth collection of short stories. These stories … were written over a sort of 20 year period, so for me, it’s quite an important book.”

Johnson added that writers typically have little input in book design and was did not know artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson explained, adding that unlike younger age groups, she struggles to identify computer-created images.

The writer worried that the public might assume she used artificial intelligence to compose her book, which she categorically denied.

“Instead of talking about my book … and what the inspiration was, we are talking about bloody AI, which I hate.”

In a statement, Smither said that the designers devoted hours creating her book's art, which includes a locomotive and an angel partially hidden by smoke, inspired by painter the artist's figures.

“My primary concern is for the designers: their careful, detailed work … is not being respected,” she stated.

Prize Committee's Stance

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, affirmed the trust takes a strong position on the use of artificial intelligence in publications.”

“We do not make such a decision lightly, one that bars the newest works by two of New Zealand's most respected authors from the 2026 prize,” she said.

“However, the criteria apply to all entrants, regardless of their mana [status], and must be consistently applied to all.”

The decision to amend the AI guidelines was driven by a desire to support the artistic and intellectual property interests of the nation's authors and artists, she added.

“As AI evolves, there may well be a need for the trust to revisit and develop the criteria further.”

Industry Reflections

The publisher noted that publishers and authors regularly use software like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this situation underscored the pressing need for carefully crafted policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously served as judges for categories of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that covers get minimal consideration during judging.

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

The use of AI in creative sectors has encountered growing examination as the technology advances, with some organizations creating methods to address its impact.