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Two acclaimed New Zealand writers have had their works excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literature award because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Details

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its NZ$65,000 novel award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the next thirty days because of new guidelines concerning AI usage.

The publisher of both titles, the publisher, stated that the prize committee amended the criteria in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for every entered 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 noted.

Writers' Responses

Johnson expressed understanding for the prize administrators, stating she shares deep concerns about AI in creative industries, but was disappointed 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 further stated that writers usually have little involvement in cover design and was unaware AI had been used for her cover, which features 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, adding that unlike younger age groups, she struggles to recognize AI-generated graphics.

Johnson worried that readers might think she employed AI 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 comment, Smither expressed that the designers spent considerable time crafting her publication's art, which features a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by painter the artist's figures.

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

Prize Trust's Position

Nicola Legat, chair of the book awards trust that oversees the Ockham awards, said the trust takes a “firm stance 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,” 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 criteria was motivated by a desire to protect the creative and copyright interests of the nation's writers and artists, she explained.

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

Industry Considerations

The publisher pointed out that publishing houses and authors often use tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which utilize AI, 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 Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for categories of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that cover designs get little attention during judging.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” the author said.

The application of artificial intelligence in creative fields has encountered increasing scrutiny as the tech advances, with some organizations creating methods to address its impact.