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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their books excluded from contention for the nation's prestigious literature award due to the use of artificial intelligence in creating their cover art.

Exclusion Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction prize in the tenth month, but were disqualified the next thirty days due to recently introduced guidelines concerning artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of both titles, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards committee amended the criteria in the eighth month, by which time the covers for all submitted title 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.

Authors' Responses

The author voiced understanding for the prize organizers, saying she has deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was let down by the ruling.

“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.”

She added that writers typically have little input in book artwork and was did not know AI had been used for her book cover, which displays a feline with human-like dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson said, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she struggles to identify AI-generated graphics.

Johnson feared that the public might think she employed AI to compose her work, which she categorically 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, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists spent hours creating her book's art, which includes a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by artist the artist's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Stance

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that oversees the prizes, said the trust takes a strong position on the application 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 said.

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

The decision to revise the artificial intelligence criteria was driven by a aim to protect the creative and intellectual property rights of the country's authors and artists, she explained.

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

Publishing Reflections

Wilson pointed out that publishers and writers often employ software like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the urgent requirement for well-defined 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 get minimal consideration during evaluation.

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

The use of artificial intelligence in creative sectors has encountered growing scrutiny as the technology progresses, with some organizations creating methods to address its influence.