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A pair of acclaimed Kiwi authors have had their books excluded from consideration for the country's prestigious literary award due to the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel set "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in October, but were ruled out the next thirty days because of new guidelines regarding AI use.

The publisher of both titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize committee updated the guidelines in August, by which time the cover designs for every entered book would have previously been completed.

“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

Johnson expressed sympathy for the award organizers, saying she shares deep concerns about AI in artistic industries, but was disappointed by the decision.

“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.”

She further stated that authors usually have minimal involvement in book design and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like teeth.

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

Johnson worried that readers might think she used AI to write her book, which she emphatically denied.

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

In a comment, Smither expressed that the artists spent considerable time creating her publication's art, which features a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist the artist's figures.

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

Prize Committee's Position

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that oversees the Ockham awards, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance on the use of artificial intelligence 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.

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

The move to amend the artificial intelligence guidelines was motivated by a desire to support the artistic and intellectual property interests of the nation's authors and illustrators, she explained.

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

Industry Considerations

Wilson pointed out that publishing houses and writers regularly use tools like grammar checkers and image editors, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this situation underscored the pressing requirement for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have previously been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that covers receive minimal attention during judging.

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

The use of artificial intelligence in creative fields has encountered growing examination as the technology advances, with some groups developing ways to counter its impact.