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Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their works disqualified from consideration for the nation's prestigious literary award due to the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their cover art.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in the tenth month, but were disqualified the following thirty days due to recently introduced guidelines regarding AI use.

The publisher of the two books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize committee amended the criteria in August, by which point the cover designs for all entered title would have already been finalized.

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

Authors' Reactions

Johnson voiced sympathy for the award administrators, stating she shares deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she remarked. “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 authors usually have little involvement in book artwork and was did not know artificial intelligence had been used for her cover, which displays a feline with human-like teeth.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” the author explained, adding that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to identify AI-generated graphics.

Johnson feared that readers might assume she used AI to write her book, which she emphatically did not do.

“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 hours creating her publication's cover, which includes a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist 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

The trust chair, chair of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, affirmed the trust maintains a “firm stance on the use of AI 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,” she stated.

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

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

Publishing Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishers and authors often employ tools like grammar checkers and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this incident highlighted the pressing requirement for well-defined guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have previously been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that cover designs receive little consideration during judging.

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

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has encountered growing examination as the technology progresses, with some groups creating methods to counter its impact.