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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand writers have had their books excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary award because of the utilization of AI in creating their book covers.

Disqualification Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its NZ$65,000 novel prize in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following thirty days because of new rules concerning AI usage.

The publisher of both books, the publisher, explained that the prize organizers amended the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the covers for all submitted book would have previously been finalized.

“It was, therefore, far too late for any publisher to have taken this clause into account in their design briefs,” the publisher said.

Writers' Reactions

The author voiced understanding for the prize organizers, saying she has 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 further stated that authors usually have little input in book design and was did not know artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human dentition.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” the author said, adding that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to identify computer-created graphics.

The writer feared that readers might think she used artificial intelligence to write her work, which she categorically denied.

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

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the designers devoted considerable time crafting her publication's cover, which includes a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by artist Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Prize Trust's Stance

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, said the trust takes a strong position on the application of AI 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 stated.

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

The decision to revise the AI guidelines was driven by a desire to support the artistic and intellectual property rights of the nation's writers and illustrators, she added.

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

Industry Considerations

The publisher noted that publishers and authors often use tools like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this incident highlighted the urgent requirement for carefully crafted policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have in the past served as judges for categories of the prizes, and both emphasized that cover designs get minimal attention during evaluation.

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

The use of artificial intelligence in creative sectors has faced increasing examination as the technology advances, with some groups creating methods to address its impact.