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Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their books excluded from consideration for the country's prestigious literary prize due to the utilization of AI in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Details

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in October, but were ruled out the next thirty days because of recently introduced rules concerning AI usage.

The publisher of the two titles, Quentin Wilson, stated that the prize committee amended the criteria in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for every submitted 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 said.

Authors' Responses

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

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she commented. “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.”

She added that writers typically have little input in cover artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like dentition.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson said, adding that unlike younger generations, she finds it difficult to identify AI-generated images.

The writer worried that the public might assume she employed artificial intelligence to compose her work, which she categorically denied.

“Instead of talking about my book … and what the inspiration was, we are talking about bloody AI, which I hate.”

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists spent hours crafting her book's cover, which features a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by artist Marc Chagall's figures.

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

Award Trust's Position

Nicola Legat, chair of the award foundation that oversees the prizes, said the trust maintains a strong position 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 stated.

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

The move to amend the AI guidelines was motivated by a desire to protect 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.”

Industry Considerations

The publisher pointed out that publishers and writers regularly employ tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this situation underscored the pressing requirement for well-defined policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously served as judges for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs receive little attention during judging.

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

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic fields has encountered increasing scrutiny as the technology advances, with some organizations developing ways to counter its impact.