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Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their works excluded from contention for the nation's esteemed literary prize due to the use of AI in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Details

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

The publishing house of both titles, the publisher, stated that the prize organizers updated the guidelines in August, by which point the cover designs for every submitted book 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 expressed sympathy for the prize organizers, saying she shares serious worries about artificial intelligence in creative fields, but was disappointed by the ruling.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” 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 usually have minimal input in cover design and was unaware AI had been used for her cover, which displays 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,” the author explained, noting that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she struggles to recognize AI-generated graphics.

The writer feared that readers might assume she used artificial intelligence to compose her book, which she categorically denied.

“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 devoted considerable time crafting her book's art, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by artist Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Stance

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that administers the Ockham awards, affirmed the trust takes a “firm stance on the use of artificial intelligence in publications.”

“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 said.

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

The move to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a desire to support the artistic and intellectual property interests 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 Considerations

The publisher noted that publishers and writers regularly employ software like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this situation highlighted the pressing requirement for carefully crafted policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past served as judges for sections of the prizes, and both stressed that covers get minimal consideration during evaluation.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” the author said.

The use of artificial intelligence in artistic fields has encountered increasing scrutiny as the tech advances, with some groups developing methods to address its impact.