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A pair of award-winning Kiwi writers have had their works excluded from contention for the country's esteemed literary award because of the use of artificial intelligence in creating their cover art.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel set "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction prize in October, but were disqualified the next thirty days because of recently introduced guidelines regarding AI usage.

The publisher of both books, the publisher, stated that the prize committee amended the criteria in August, by which point the covers for all submitted book would have already been completed.

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

Authors' Reactions

The author voiced understanding for the award administrators, saying she shares serious worries about AI in creative fields, 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.”

Johnson further stated that authors typically have minimal involvement in book design and was did not know AI had been employed for her book cover, which displays a feline with human-like dentition.

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

Johnson worried that readers might assume she employed artificial intelligence to write her book, which she categorically did not do.

“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 devoted considerable time crafting her publication's art, which includes a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter the artist's figures.

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

Prize Committee's Position

The trust chair, chair of the award foundation that administers the prizes, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance on the application of artificial intelligence in publications.”

“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,” she stated.

“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 driven by a desire to protect the artistic and copyright rights of the nation's writers and illustrators, she added.

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

Industry Considerations

Wilson noted that publishers and authors often employ software like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this incident underscored the urgent requirement for well-defined 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 text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” Smither concluded.

The application of AI in creative fields has faced growing examination as the tech advances, with some groups creating methods to counter its impact.