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A pair of award-winning New Zealand writers have had their books disqualified from consideration for the country's prestigious literary prize because of the use of AI in designing their cover art.

Disqualification Particulars

The author's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the next thirty days due to new rules regarding artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of the two titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards committee updated the criteria in August, by which point the cover designs for all entered book would have already been completed.

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

Writers' Responses

Johnson voiced sympathy for the award administrators, stating she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” 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 further stated that writers usually have little involvement in book design and was did not know AI had been employed for her 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,” the author said, adding that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she struggles to recognize AI-generated images.

The writer feared that readers might think she employed artificial intelligence to compose her work, which she categorically did not do.

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

In a statement, Smither said that the designers spent considerable time creating her book's art, which features a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's figures.

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

Award Committee's Stance

Nicola Legat, chair of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, affirmed the organization takes a “firm stance 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.

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

The move to amend the artificial intelligence criteria was motivated by a aim to protect the artistic and copyright interests of the nation's writers and illustrators, she explained.

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

Publishing Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishers and authors regularly employ tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the urgent requirement for carefully crafted policies.

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

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

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

The use of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has encountered increasing examination as the tech progresses, with some organizations developing ways to address its impact.