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Two acclaimed Kiwi writers have had their books disqualified from consideration for the country's prestigious literary award due to the use of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Exclusion Particulars

The author's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its NZ$65,000 fiction award in October, but were disqualified the next thirty days due to recently introduced guidelines concerning artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of the two books, the publisher, stated that the awards organizers amended the criteria in August, by which point the covers for every entered book would have previously been completed.

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

Writers' Responses

Johnson voiced understanding for the prize organizers, saying she has deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, 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.”

She further stated that authors typically have little involvement in cover design and was did not know artificial intelligence had been used for her cover, which displays a cat 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 generations, she struggles to identify computer-created images.

The writer worried that the public might assume she used artificial intelligence to compose her work, which she categorically 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 comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists spent hours creating her book's cover, which includes a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter the artist's figures.

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

Award Committee's Stance

Nicola Legat, head of the award foundation that oversees the prizes, said the organization takes 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 said.

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

The move to revise the artificial intelligence criteria was motivated by a desire to support the artistic and intellectual property interests of the country's authors and artists, she explained.

“With artificial intelligence advancing, the trust may need to review and refine these criteria in the future.”

Industry Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishers and authors often employ tools like grammar checkers and image editors, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the urgent need for well-defined guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for sections of the prizes, and both emphasized that cover designs receive minimal attention during evaluation.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” Smither concluded.

The application of artificial intelligence in creative fields has encountered growing scrutiny as the tech progresses, with some groups developing ways to counter its influence.