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Two award-winning Kiwi authors have had their works excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary prize due to the use of AI in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Particulars

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the next thirty days due to recently introduced guidelines regarding AI use.

The publisher of both titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards organizers amended the criteria in the eighth month, by which point the covers for every submitted book would have already 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 expressed sympathy for the award administrators, saying she shares serious worries about AI in creative fields, but was let down by the ruling.

“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.”

Johnson further stated that writers typically have little involvement in cover artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her cover, which displays a cat 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 said, noting that unlike younger age groups, she finds it difficult to identify AI-generated images.

Johnson worried that the public might assume she employed artificial intelligence to compose her book, 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 statement, Elizabeth Smither said that the designers spent considerable time crafting her publication's art, which includes a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's figures.

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

Prize Committee's Stance

Nicola Legat, chair of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, affirmed the organization takes a strong position on the application of AI 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 driven by a aim to protect the artistic and intellectual property rights of the nation's writers and illustrators, she explained.

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

Publishing Considerations

Wilson pointed out that publishers and writers often use tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this incident highlighted the urgent requirement for well-defined guidelines.

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

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

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

The application of AI in creative sectors has faced increasing scrutiny as the tech progresses, with some organizations creating methods to address its impact.