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Two acclaimed Kiwi authors have had their works excluded from contention for the nation's prestigious literature prize because of the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Details

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in October, but were ruled out the following month because of recently introduced rules concerning AI usage.

The publisher of both titles, the publisher, explained that the prize committee amended the criteria in the eighth month, by which point the covers for every submitted title would have already been completed.

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

Authors' Responses

Johnson voiced sympathy for the prize organizers, saying she shares deep concerns about AI in creative fields, 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 writers typically have minimal involvement in book design and was did not know AI had been employed for her cover, which features a cat with human-like dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson explained, adding that unlike younger generations, she finds it difficult to recognize AI-generated graphics.

Johnson worried that readers might assume she used AI to write her work, which she emphatically did not do.

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

In a comment, Smither said that the designers spent hours creating her publication's art, which includes a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by artist the artist's imagery.

“My primary concern is for the designers: their careful, detailed work … is not being respected,” she remarked.

Award Trust's Position

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, said the trust 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 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 driven by a aim to protect the artistic and copyright interests of the nation's writers and artists, she added.

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

Publishing Considerations

The publisher noted that publishing houses and authors regularly employ tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the urgent need for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

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

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

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has encountered increasing examination as the tech advances, with some groups creating ways to counter its influence.