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A pair of acclaimed Kiwi writers have had their works excluded from contention for the nation's esteemed literature award due to the utilization of AI in creating their cover art.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar novel award in October, but were disqualified the following month due to new rules concerning artificial intelligence usage.

The publishing house of the two books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards organizers updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the covers for all entered title would have previously been finalized.

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

Writers' Responses

Johnson voiced sympathy for the prize organizers, saying she has serious worries about AI in creative industries, but was disappointed by the ruling.

“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.”

She added that authors typically have minimal input in cover artwork and was unaware AI had been used for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like teeth.

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

Johnson feared that the public might think she employed artificial intelligence to write her work, which she categorically 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, Smither said that the artists spent hours creating her publication's cover, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by painter 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

Nicola Legat, chair of the book awards trust that oversees the Ockham awards, 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,” she stated.

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

The decision to revise the artificial intelligence criteria was motivated by a aim to support the artistic and copyright interests of the nation's writers and artists, she explained.

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

Publishing Considerations

Wilson pointed out that publishers and authors regularly use software like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the urgent requirement for well-defined policies.

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

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both emphasized that cover designs receive minimal attention during judging.

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

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