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A pair of award-winning New Zealand authors have had their works disqualified from consideration for the nation's prestigious literary prize because of the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's short novel collection "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar novel prize in October, but were ruled out the following month due to recently introduced guidelines regarding artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of the two books, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards committee amended the guidelines in August, by which point the covers for all submitted book would have already been completed.

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

Writers' Reactions

The author expressed understanding for the prize organizers, stating she has deep concerns about artificial intelligence in creative fields, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” 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 further stated that authors typically have little involvement in book design and was unaware AI had been employed for her cover, which features a feline with human teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson said, noting that unlike younger age groups, she struggles to identify computer-created graphics.

The writer worried that the public might assume she used artificial intelligence to write her book, 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 statement, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists devoted hours crafting her publication's cover, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by painter the artist's figures.

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

Award Trust's Position

Nicola Legat, chair of the book awards trust that administers the prizes, affirmed the organization takes 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 amend the artificial intelligence criteria was motivated by a desire to support the creative and copyright interests of the country's authors and artists, she added.

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

Publishing Reflections

Wilson noted that publishers and authors regularly employ software like Grammarly and Photoshop, which utilize AI, and this incident underscored the pressing requirement for carefully crafted guidelines.

“As an industry, we must work together to ensure that this situation does not happen again.”

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that cover designs receive minimal attention during evaluation.

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

The use of AI in artistic fields has faced growing examination as the tech advances, with some groups developing ways to address its impact.