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A pair of award-winning New Zealand writers have had their books disqualified from consideration for the country's prestigious literature prize due to the utilization of AI in designing their cover art.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel set "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction prize in October, but were disqualified the next month due to recently introduced guidelines concerning AI usage.

The publisher of the two books, the publisher, explained that the awards committee amended the guidelines in August, by which time the covers for every submitted book would have previously been completed.

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

Authors' Reactions

Johnson expressed understanding for the award administrators, stating she shares serious worries about AI in creative fields, but was disappointed by the decision.

“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.”

Johnson added that authors typically have little input in cover design and was unaware AI had been used for her cover, which features 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,” Johnson explained, adding that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she finds it difficult to identify AI-generated images.

Johnson feared that the public might assume she employed artificial intelligence to compose 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 statement, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists devoted hours crafting her book's art, which features a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by artist Marc Chagall's figures.

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

Prize Trust's Position

Nicola Legat, head of the award foundation that administers the Ockham awards, said the trust takes a “firm stance on the use 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,” Legat said.

“However, the criteria apply to all entrants, regardless of their mana [status], and must be consistently applied to all.”

The move to amend the artificial intelligence guidelines was motivated by a aim to support the artistic and copyright interests of the country's authors and illustrators, she explained.

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

Industry Considerations

Wilson noted that publishing houses and writers often use tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this incident highlighted the urgent need for carefully crafted policies.

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

Both Smither and Johnson have in the past served as judges for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that covers receive minimal consideration during evaluation.

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

The application of AI in creative fields has faced increasing examination as the technology advances, with some groups creating ways to address its impact.