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A pair of acclaimed Kiwi authors have had their works excluded from consideration for the nation's prestigious literary award because of the utilization of AI in creating their book covers.

Disqualification Details

The author's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in the tenth month, but were disqualified the following thirty days because of recently introduced guidelines concerning artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of the two books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize organizers updated the criteria in August, by which point the cover designs for every entered title would have already been finalized.

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

Authors' Reactions

Johnson voiced sympathy for the award organizers, stating she has deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, but was let down by the decision.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she commented. “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 input in book artwork and was unaware AI had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson explained, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she struggles to identify AI-generated images.

Johnson feared that the public might assume she employed artificial intelligence to write 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, Smither expressed that the designers spent hours crafting her publication's cover, which features a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist the artist's imagery.

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

Prize Committee's Position

The trust chair, chair of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, said the trust maintains a strong position 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.

“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 criteria was motivated by a desire to protect the creative and copyright interests of the nation's writers and artists, she added.

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

Publishing Reflections

The publisher noted that publishers and authors regularly use tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this situation highlighted the pressing need for well-defined policies.

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

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

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

The use of AI in artistic fields has encountered increasing examination as the technology progresses, with some organizations creating methods to address its influence.