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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand writers have had their books excluded from contention for the nation's prestigious literature award because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's short novel 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 following thirty days due to recently introduced rules concerning artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of both books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize organizers updated the criteria in August, by which time the covers for every submitted 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 said.

Authors' Reactions

Johnson voiced understanding for the award administrators, stating she has deep concerns about AI in artistic industries, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she commented. “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 typically have minimal involvement in book design and was unaware AI had been employed for her cover, which features a feline with human dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” the author explained, noting that unlike younger generations, she struggles to identify AI-generated images.

Johnson worried that readers might think she employed 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, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the designers devoted considerable time crafting her book's cover, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, influenced by artist the artist's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Stance

Nicola Legat, chair of the award foundation that administers the Ockham awards, affirmed the organization takes a strong position on the application 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.

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

The move to revise the AI guidelines was motivated by a desire to protect the artistic and copyright interests of the country's writers and artists, she explained.

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

Publishing Reflections

The publisher noted that publishing houses and writers regularly employ tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the pressing need for well-defined policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have previously served as judges for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs get minimal consideration during judging.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” Smither concluded.

The application of AI in artistic sectors has encountered increasing scrutiny as the technology progresses, with some organizations creating methods to address its impact.