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A pair of award-winning New Zealand writers have had their books excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary prize because of the use of artificial intelligence in designing their cover art.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 novel award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following month due to new rules concerning AI usage.

The publisher of the two books, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards committee amended the criteria in August, by which time the cover designs for all submitted book would have already been finalized.

“Consequently, it was much too late for publishers to incorporate this new rule into their design plans,” the publisher said.

Writers' Reactions

Johnson voiced understanding for the award organizers, stating she shares deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was disappointed 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.”

Johnson added that writers usually have minimal input in book artwork and was unaware AI had been used for her cover, which displays a cat with human teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson explained, noting that unlike younger age groups, she struggles to identify AI-generated images.

Johnson worried that the public might think she used AI to compose her work, which she emphatically did not do.

“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 spent hours creating her book's art, which includes a steam train and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by artist Marc Chagall's figures.

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

Prize Trust's Stance

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

“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 stated.

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

The decision to amend the AI criteria was motivated by a aim to support the creative and intellectual property interests of the country's authors and artists, she added.

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

Industry Considerations

Wilson noted that publishing houses and authors regularly use software like Grammarly and image editors, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the pressing need for carefully crafted policies.

“As an industry, we must work together to ensure that this situation does not happen again.”

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both emphasized that covers receive minimal attention during judging.

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

The application of AI in creative sectors has faced increasing examination as the technology advances, with some groups developing methods to counter its impact.