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Two award-winning Kiwi authors have had their books excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary award because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Exclusion Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in October, but were disqualified the following month due to new rules regarding AI usage.

The publisher of the two titles, the publisher, explained that the awards organizers amended the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for all submitted book would have already been completed.

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

Authors' Responses

Johnson voiced understanding for the prize organizers, saying she shares deep concerns about AI in creative industries, but was let down by the ruling.

“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 typically have little input in book design and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which displays a feline 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, noting that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she struggles to identify AI-generated images.

The writer feared that the public might think she employed AI to compose 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 said that the designers devoted considerable time crafting her publication's cover, which includes a locomotive and an angel partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Prize Trust's Stance

The trust chair, chair of the award foundation that oversees the prizes, affirmed the trust takes a “firm stance on the application 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 decision to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a aim to protect the creative and intellectual property rights of the country's writers and artists, she explained.

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

Industry Reflections

The publisher noted that publishing houses and authors often use tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this incident highlighted the pressing requirement for carefully crafted policies.

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

Both Smither and Johnson have previously been jurors for sections of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs get minimal attention during evaluation.

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

The application of AI in creative fields has encountered growing examination as the tech advances, with some organizations creating ways to counter its influence.