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Two acclaimed New Zealand writers have had their books disqualified from contention for the country's prestigious literature prize due to the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's 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 next month because of new guidelines regarding artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of the two books, the publisher, stated that the awards organizers updated the criteria in the eighth month, by which time the cover designs for every submitted book would have previously 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' Responses

Johnson voiced understanding for the award organizers, saying she shares deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, but was disappointed by the decision.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” 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 added that writers usually have minimal input in cover artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her cover, which displays a feline with human dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson explained, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she struggles to recognize AI-generated graphics.

The writer feared that readers might assume she employed AI to write her work, which she emphatically denied.

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

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the artists spent hours crafting her publication's cover, which features a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by artist the artist's figures.

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

Award Trust's Position

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, affirmed the organization takes a strong position on the application of artificial intelligence in books.”

“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,” she stated.

“Nevertheless, the rules apply equally to every participant, no matter their standing, and must be enforced uniformly.”

The decision to amend the artificial intelligence criteria was motivated by a aim to support the artistic and intellectual property rights of the country's writers and artists, she added.

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

Publishing Reflections

The publisher noted that publishers and authors often use software like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this incident highlighted the urgent requirement for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously served as judges for sections of the prizes, and both emphasized that covers get little consideration during judging.

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

The application of artificial intelligence in creative sectors has encountered growing scrutiny as the tech progresses, with some organizations creating methods to address its influence.